WSB - The Good And Not So Good

[hbomb2]

Many are excited about the prospect of the WSB starting as it brings forth positive energy to the sport of boxing. I see good things for the few that are involved, but negatives for the thousands who are not. I will list the 5 weight classes and then I will list the positives that I see and then list the negatives and hope to start a conversation that may help steer our representatives in a direction that is beneficial to all.

WEIGHT CLASSES

Bantamweight - 50kg-54kg = 110.231lbs-119.049lbs
Lightweight - 57kg-61kg = 125.663lbs-134.481lbs
Middleweight - 68kg-73kg = 149.91lbs-160.937lbs
LightHeavyweight - 80kg-85kg = 176.369lbs-187.392lbs
Heavyweight - 91+kg = 200+lbs

THE GOOD

Boxers and staff are paid a salary ranging from $25,000 to a couple hundred thousand.
Boxers are provided training table with and traning facilities.
Boxers are provided health insurance.
The WSB allow boxers to compete professionally without sacrificing their dreams of competing on behalf of their country at the Olympic Games.
The WSB scoring system may influence future amateur boxing to utilize a similiar scoring system.

THE NOT SO GOOD

Boxers must fall within the 5 weight classes categories to compete. (If you are 153lbs to 149lbs you can not compete.)
No more than 20 total boxers in a country has an opportunity to compete and advance to the championship.
The champion of the WSB get an automatic bid to the Olympic Games representing his country ina weight class up or down from the weight won at the championships. (This takes away the opportunity for thousands of boxers to compete for that position as it will not be contested in the Olympic Trials. Which may eliminate potential medalist as Cam Thompson, Steve Greffard, Marcue Browne, Luis Arias, Jessie Hart, Demetrious Battle, Errol Spence, Antoine Douglas, I have to mention Adam Lopez and all of the military boxers including Jeffrey Spencer. Sacrificing many for few is not so good to me.

On another note, I have heard that the top US boxer is ranked #60 in the world and the a US boxer hasn't a chance to actually win the WSB. I fail to believe that as I am sure do many of the US participants.

Hoping for good responses and a movement to give all an opportunity to persue their dream.

[Dennis]

Ron - I have yet to see anything official about the qualifying process and how it is impacted by the WSB. It would be a shame if they do as you suggest. The better approach would be to consider the WSB boxers as independent and if a USA boxer in the WSB wins the WSB title and goes to the Olympics at 75kg, then the USA could have another at that weight class assuming of course that the 2nd boxer qualifies by placing high enough at a qualifier. We are only talking about 5 additional Olympic spots (the 5 WSB weight classes).

With 3 U.S. franchises in the WSB, there are more United States boxers competing in the league than boxers from other countries. Some teams are basically just the national federations "national" team for the 5 weight classes like the Milan Thunder and the Moscow Kremlin Bears (probably since the team hasn't really been announced).

[hbomb2]

I was on a conference call last week concerning the 2012 Olympic Trials qualification process and it was revealed by Anthony Barkowski that if an american wins the WSB, which ever weight class that boxer chooses to compete in will not be in the US Olympic Trials. It was also confirmed that the Trials qualification procedures were PAL, Military, Golden Gloves champions, the top 4 at the 2011 US National Championships and the champion of the last chance tournament. I suggested that the top 2 at PAL, GG, US Nationals plus the military and Last chance champions be the format as top four will cause problems. It would be better if we were to have the western and eastern trials but there is not enough time to put them out for bids.

[DCAmateurBoxing]

I was on a conference call last week concerning the 2012 Olympic Trials qualification process and it was revealed by Anthony Barkowski that if an american wins the WSB, which ever weight class that boxer chooses to compete in will not be in the US Olympic Trials. It was also confirmed that the Trials qualification procedures were PAL, Military, Golden Gloves champions, the top 4 at the 2011 US National Championships and the champion of the last chance tournament. I suggested that the top 2 at PAL, GG, US Nationals plus the military and Last chance champions be the format as top four will cause problems. It would be better if we were to have the western and eastern trials but there is not enough time to put them out for bids.

That is absolutely ridiculous!!! I know you were on a call, but if that is the case, what is the point of amateur boxing in the US? If we have boxers working hard towards the trials, for example our PAL National Champion. He has won and secured his spot at the Olympic trials at 123lbs. for example. Technically he would not have to compete at other qualifiers, because he has his spot. So, now if there is a potential WSB Champion from his country, he is supposed to do what? Try to qualify at 114lb. and 132lbs. at other qualifiers to protect his opportunity? When really he should be just training for the Olympic trials at 123. Otherwise, if he rested on his PAL title at some point (I don't even know the timing of the WSB Championship and when a boxer would have to declare their weight VS. the Olympic Trial date) the WSB champion declares his weight and basically removes that 123lbs. PAL Champion from the Olympic process altogether and he either doesn't compete at the Olympic Trials OR he wins the Olympic Trials but still doesn't get to go to the Olympics? (qualifying tournaments after "making" US Team). I just can't believe how ass-backwards this sport is doing things. If amateur boxing was a corporation, we'd be having Congressional hearings about the mismanagement and poor planning. If amateur boxing was unionized, we'd have a work stoppage every other week.

As a coach, what can you honestly tell young boxers to strive for if it's always a moving target and sometimes no target at all? The age qualification (17 years old by Sept. 17th 2011 I'm going off memory) wasn't even announced officially until the DAY of the 1st qualifier (PAL) started. Luckily, we haven't been affected directly, but I really feel for some of these boxers that are trying to wade through this BS.

[hbomb2]

I agree with you totally! USA Boxing is a corporation that falls under a corporation, the USOC, which has to abide by federal law. The Ted Stevens Sports Act is one that is violated by us on a consistnt basis. Some may feel that we boxing people are not smart enough to get congress involved. Nothing like this would ever happen with USA Swimming, USA Gymnastics or USA Track & Field. I think that it is good that the current president and BOD has made it availible for our athletes to receive money from sponsors. Although many perceive that the US hasn't an athlete in the WSB that will win, it goes against our ideals of allowing each athlete the opportunity to compete to advance and represent our country in the Olympic Games.