NEW JERSEY (June 26, 2013) – Promoter Gary Shaw is standing behind Jose Sulaiman and theWBC’s stance against AIBA (International Amateur Boxing Association) and its ruling to have professional boxers at the Olympic Games.
“I would like to respectfully inform you that the WBC has expressed its opposition to the monopoly to be instituted at the Olympic Games, by a ruling of AIBA to have professional boxers at the Olympics, but exclusively with those that have signed for AIBA, no one else.” said Suliman.
“They have also publicly expressed that they will not allow in the future having promoters of professional boxing, sign Olympic fighters. They claim that professional promoters come to sign boxers using their Olympic medals to take them for their promotions to exploit them.” Suliman concluded.
“As a promoter in professional boxing, I’m disturbed by the ruling come forth by the AIBA and its decision to have professional boxers at the Olympics. All fighters who have come from the amateur ranks try to achieve the goal of becoming an Olympian to represent their respective country. That dream will now die with professional boxers being able to compete in the Olympics.” stated Shaw.
“It appears to me that the AIBA wants to have a strangle hold on the sport of boxing.” Shaw continued. “The AIBA has no right to exclude any professional boxing promoter from singing an Olympic fighter. We promoters go to great lengths and take enormous risks to promote our fighters in hopes they become stars in the sport. Olympic boxing should be solely for amateur competition and all fighters should have the right to pursue the professional career as they see fit, once their amateur career is over.”
