AIBA announces World League

[emile]

http://www.aiba.org/en-US/news/ozqsp/ne ... /news.aspx

if there was only an emoticon with eyes that rolled harder

So who is the investor here? Where is the startup capital coming from? Is there any market for media, sponsorship, licensing?

Not that I think wider team boxing is a bad idea. I would like to see a summer amateur league in the US - but this seems wildly hopeful and well outside the boundaries of what AIBA should be focussing on.

[boxmel]

Some one needs to come up with a "groan" emoticon.

A new ground breaking tournament designed to reshape the world of international boxing at both the Olympic style and the professional level -the World League of Boxing (WLB) -

Now - how in the heck does AIBA think they can compete with the already established pro managers and sanctioning bodies? I was informed that Jose Suliman contributed to his campaign - maybe that's his in?

WLB will be an annual, franchised based professional boxing league with cities/venues/commercial 3rd parties applying to "own" a franchise and enter its team of boxers into the League.

Does he really believe that there will be enough interest? I don't know about the rest of the world, but I doubt anyone in the U.S. will be interested.

AIBA will, with support from its national federations, help facilitate the participation of the world's best boxers in the League,

And the NOC's are going to go along with this?

and IMG will source and negotiate the franchises, and sell the commercial rights (media, sponsorship, licensing) around the world in consultation with AIBA.

Ahhhhh - money maker for AIBA.

In addition, it is AIBA's intention that boxers that compete in the WLB will be allowed to compete also in future Olympic Games.

Wonder what the IOC will have to say about this......wonder how USAB's insurance company will have to say about this.......

Ian Todd, the President of IMG International, said - "IMG is extremely proud to have been selected by AIBA as its business and marketing partner in connection with the World League of Boxing. With our 40 years of experience in working with some of the world's leading sports federations we are confident that with our skill sets of producing/selling media rights, procuring sponsorship and negotiating franchise agreements we can build the World League of Boxing into one of the world's premium annual sporting events with AIBA."

Wonder how you sell something that doesn't generate much, if any interest, especially when you have to pay for it?

[Dennis]

http://www.aiba.org/en-US/news/ozqsp/ne ... /news.aspx

if there was only an emoticon with eyes that rolled harder

So who is the investor here? Where is the startup capital coming from? Is there any market for media, sponsorship, licensing?

Not that I think wider team boxing is a bad idea. I would like to see a summer amateur league in the US - but this seems wildly hopeful and well outside the boundaries of what AIBA should be focussing on.

Wider team boxing? Where is there international TEAM boxing now? It seems like it is just an individual sport. I know that there are team winners at duals and sometimes at tournaments, but it really isn't a TEAM SPORT.

[Dennis]

http://www.aiba.org/en-US/news/ozqsp/ne ... /news.aspx

if there was only an emoticon with eyes that rolled harder

So who is the investor here? Where is the startup capital coming from? Is there any market for media, sponsorship, licensing?

Not that I think wider team boxing is a bad idea. I would like to see a summer amateur league in the US - but this seems wildly hopeful and well outside the boundaries of what AIBA should be focussing on.

If we could get team amateur boxing going in the US it would help the sport. Sort of like H.S. and College wrestling. That is both an individual and team sport. Track & Field is another example. Gymnastics, golf, tennis and cross country are other examples. The list goes on and on.

[Dennis]

IMG sounds like they want to take over pro BOXING.

[Dennis]

I hope they are successful. Maybe we could then have a pro boxing DRAFT and start all the fantasy leagues.

[Dennis]

I was looking at football magazines the other day and noticed that the store had more Fantasy Football Magazines than they had magazines that actually covered the sport.

[emile]

http://www.aiba.org/en-US/news/ozqsp/ne ... /news.aspx

if there was only an emoticon with eyes that rolled harder

So who is the investor here? Where is the startup capital coming from? Is there any market for media, sponsorship, licensing?

Not that I think wider team boxing is a bad idea. I would like to see a summer amateur league in the US - but this seems wildly hopeful and well outside the boundaries of what AIBA should be focussing on.

Wider team boxing? Where is there international TEAM boxing now? It seems like it is just an individual sport. I know that there are team winners at duals and sometimes at tournaments, but it really isn't a TEAM SPORT.

Some European countries have club teams competing in boxing leagues, although I don't know how the competitions work exactly. Here's an example from Poland.

http://amateur-boxing.strefa.pl/DualsLe ... gue_6.html

I think, on a very small scale, something like this could work for amateurs in the US. The leagues would have to be very localized to keep travel costs and time commitments down, but you could have 11-man or woman teams (or some mix) and have a final aggregate score like you would with wrestling teams. This would be a little similar to the teams at Golden Gloves, except these would be dual meets with the focus on team results. I think it could maybe break even, get more bouts for fighters, and maybe bring the sport to a few new people.

[Dennis]

OK, Emile. Sounds good, now go get it started.

[therealPunchDrunk]

The league in Germany works pretty well. There's no huge money, or huge crowds, but the am fighters get a little pocket money, and some competitive fights.

[boxmel]

I think, on a very small scale, something like this could work for amateurs in the US. The leagues would have to be very localized to keep travel costs and time commitments down, but you could have 11-man or woman teams (or some mix) and have a final aggregate score like you would with wrestling teams.

With the exception of the current high school league in So. Cal., I don't know how this would fit in our LBC. We have at least 2 local shows every weekend, if not three. How you would break each club, or more than one, into a league situation, or if they even wanted to, doesn't compute in MY brain. We have over 1300 registered boxers who are constantly competing.

This would be a little similar to the teams at Golden Gloves,

Except you have to advance from a local to a regional to the nationals. Golden Gloves is a group member of USA Boxing and does not have separate events except for the yearly national championships.

We'll see. I'm not holding my breath.