The British Boxing Board of Control yesterday banned all boxers
registered by either of the Russian or Belarusian federations from
boxing in the UK.
The Klitschko brothers, Vitali and Wladimir,
called for the removal of Russian boxer Dmitry Bivol from facing Saul
Canelo Alvarez in the high profile light heavyweight world title on
May 7 in Las Vegas. Eddie Hearn, head of Matchroom boxing, is the
promoter of the event, to be aired on the DAZN digital platform, owned
by Ukrainian-born British citizen Sir Len Blavatnik.
The Boxing Board’s banning of Russian and Belarussian boxers falls in
line with other world governing bodies in sanctioning sportspeople
from those countries as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Klitschko brothers, both active in Ukraine having joined militias
to defend their homeland, reacted just hours after Ukraine’s President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered an historic address via zoom to the
House of Commons. Wladimir Klitschko, the former world heavyweight
champion, commented on sanctions against Bivol, contracted to fight
Mexican star Canelo, the sport’s most watched fighter. “It is
important that this boxer is forbidden from fighting in America, just
as all Russian athletes are being banned from international
competition,” said Wladimir. “It’s nothing against the personality or
athletes, it’s about the politics of Russia. Every Russian
representative in this case needs to be sanctioned, because this way
we show to Russia that the world is against this senseless war and
that there’s no good in this war.”
Elder brother Vitali, the Mayor of Kyiv and also a former heavyweight
world champion, added: “This is not against the individual sportsman
but Ukraine needs the world to apply every pressure on Russia. The
Russian population have to put pressure on the government, on Putin,
from inside the country and show that it’s actually a senseless war.”
“People are paying with their lives, already thousands from both sides
have died,” added Vitali. “The question is: for what? For what
[purpose] is the war? For our idea of being part of the European
Union? For our idea of being part of the European family? We see our
future as a democratic, modern country and that’s why we’re fighting
for values, for principles, for our country.”
Robert Smith, general secretary of the British Boxing Board of
Control, issued a statement yesterday confirming the UK governing
body’s position. “The British Boxing Board of Control will not permit
boxers registered/licensed by the Russian Boxing Federation or
Belarussian Federation of professional boxing to compete in the United
Kingdom under the jurisdiction of the BBBofC at this time.”
Elsewhere, following an internal investigation of the scoring of the
Josh Taylor versus Jack Catterall super lightweight world title on
February 26 in Glasgow, the Stewards of the Board have downgraded Ian
John-Lewis from an A Star Class to an A Class Official, taking issue
with the margin of the judge’s 114-111 scorecard in favour of Taylor.
The Boxing Board have further decided that in addition to each A Star
Class Official being evaluated after each bout – as per current
procedure – they will now also be subject to a separate individual
annual review. The Boxing Board of Control have also contacted the
WBO, WBC, IBF and WBA supporting Catterall to be made mandatory
challenger with all four sanctioning bodies.
This Article First Appeared On The Telegraph