BoxRec

Great Britain's hopes of boxing glory at the London 2012 Olympics have been hit by the news that head coach and performance director Rob McCracken has had his licence revoked by the amateur code's governing body AIBA with immediate effect.

AIBA officials wrote to McCracken this week informing him that he will no longer be able to take part in AIBA-sanctioned events - including the Olympics - due to his links with the professional sport.

McCracken, who also coaches WBC super-middleweight champion Carl Froch, has headed Great Britain's amateur programme since 2009 but AIBA claim they have only recently been made aware of the link.

Under Rule 12.3.1 of their constitution, McCracken will be barred until such time as he denounces his professional links and re-applies to be registered as an AIBA coach - a process which will take at least six months.

This means whichever path McCracken opts to take - and it is unlikely he will be willing to split with Froch, who fights Glen Johnson in Atlantic City in June - he will miss this year's World Championships, which double as the first Olympic qualifier, in Baku in September.

McCracken was not available for comment but a British Amateur Boxing Association official said: "We are very shocked by this new rule that could have a serious impact on our medal chances at the London 2012 Olympics."

AIBA claim the rule is nothing new and that had the then Amateur Boxing Association of England chief executive Paul King indicated McCracken's professional links when he applied for the licence on McCracken's behalf in 2009, it would have been rejected.

Despite McCracken's high-profile job with Froch, an AIBA spokesman insisted: "It is the case that we did not know that he was coaching a professional boxer until it was brought to our attention at the end of last year.

"We have 195 member federations and it is very difficult for us to have close control over all of them. It's a full-time job keeping lots of people in line with the rules and lots of people need to bring things to our attention."

The relationship between AIBA and the Amateur Boxing Association of England has cooled in recent months following King's aborted attempt to replace AIBA president Ching-Kuo Wu.

There was also disappointment that plans for a London franchise in the AIBA's World Series of Boxing were scrapped in 2009. The WSB suffered a blow when one of its principle backers, sports marketing giant IMG, withdrew this week.

What an absolute Joke. How could they not know he is involved in professional Boxing - Are they so out of touch they don't actually watch Boxing or read the Boxing press?

What a load of Bollocks, that is why amateur Boxing is in such a state and they actualy deserve to be.

Shame on the AIBA.

Is this an April Fool's joke a bit late? The AIBA didn't know McCraken was coaching Froch????

What a disgrace. Are these people really so ignorant as not to be aware of who Carl Froch and his trainer are.

This country often beggars belief when it comes to sport. It's like we always try and sabotage our own chances. I bet this ruling was made by a bunch of old farts in blazers and ties who have never laced a pair of gloves in their lives.

dazzer wrote:Great Britain's hopes of boxing glory at the London 2012 Olympics have been hit by the news that head coach and performance director Rob McCracken has had his licence revoked by the amateur code's governing body AIBA with immediate effect.

AIBA officials wrote to McCracken this week informing him that he will no longer be able to take part in AIBA-sanctioned events - including the Olympics - due to his links with the professional sport.

McCracken, who also coaches WBC super-middleweight champion Carl Froch, has headed Great Britain's amateur programme since 2009 but AIBA claim they have only recently been made aware of the link.

Under Rule 12.3.1 of their constitution, McCracken will be barred until such time as he denounces his professional links and re-applies to be registered as an AIBA coach - a process which will take at least six months.

This means whichever path McCracken opts to take - and it is unlikely he will be willing to split with Froch, who fights Glen Johnson in Atlantic City in June - he will miss this year's World Championships, which double as the first Olympic qualifier, in Baku in September.

McCracken was not available for comment but a British Amateur Boxing Association official said: "We are very shocked by this new rule that could have a serious impact on our medal chances at the London 2012 Olympics."

AIBA claim the rule is nothing new and that had the then Amateur Boxing Association of England chief executive Paul King indicated McCracken's professional links when he applied for the licence on McCracken's behalf in 2009, it would have been rejected.

Despite McCracken's high-profile job with Froch, an AIBA spokesman insisted: "It is the case that we did not know that he was coaching a professional boxer until it was brought to our attention at the end of last year.

"We have 195 member federations and it is very difficult for us to have close control over all of them. It's a full-time job keeping lots of people in line with the rules and lots of people need to bring things to our attention."

The relationship between AIBA and the Amateur Boxing Association of England has cooled in recent months following King's aborted attempt to replace AIBA president Ching-Kuo Wu.

There was also disappointment that plans for a London franchise in the AIBA's World Series of Boxing were scrapped in 2009. The WSB suffered a blow when one of its principle backers, sports marketing giant IMG, withdrew this week.

This has to be a late April Fool's Day joke?!

He trains a UK world champion for goodness sake!

Don't anyone one dare tell these people that Muhammad Ali used to be known as Cassius Clay, Ssssshhh!!

1st thing I did was check the date. Joke.

boxingchat wrote:Don't anyone one dare tell these people that Muhammad Ali used to be known as Cassius Clay, Ssssshhh!!

You serious???

This is a disgrace that will only hurt our amateur game, I think this is down to jealousy at just how well McCracken has been doing!! He's done a fantastic job so far!! I think he'll still be training them just not allowed in the corner..

I'm not defended the AIBA at all, but I was surprised McCracken got the job given he was coaching Froch, as I had always thought pro trianers couldn't work the corners at amateur bouts. If the BABA neglected to check the rule-book, or mention it in his application, then they are the institution at fault.

got this info off the oddschecker site, it was the latest news on there boxing section

"The relationship between AIBA and the Amateur Boxing Association of England has cooled in recent months following King's aborted attempt to replace AIBA president Ching-Kuo Wu."

Forget the bullshit story about the AIBA not knowing about McCracken's ties to the pro game, i'm betting this is the real reason. Corrupt pricks.

Probably the most retarded thing i've heard in 2011

The fact Froch trains with the Olympic squad will likely get flagged up next.

joke shop.

The whole team should go on strike.

Absolutely Preposterous

Its time ENGLAND/GREAT BRITAIN nmoved with the times. For years the states have mixed the two. The uk are seriously missing out on LEARNING POSSIBLITIES.

Well it is a backward ruling, rules should be ammended at times - it happens in all sports, for better or poorer. I was originally shocked about the ignorance of the AIBA's - and I am still am. Although I had to some jaw dropping moments when talking to coaching staff of the Welsh boxing team - their knowledge of the proffesional game was absolutely nil. Not just a lack of knowledge about who is champions etc and the politics - but a lack of INTEREST also. It made me think lots about it, are these even boxing fans or just got into it to give their naturally gifted son something to keep them off the streets.

Each week I was there - I would ask them "oh did you see so and so fight on sky" - answer always "nah I missed it" - "who do you think will win between Oscar and Trinidad" - answer - "well, ummm Oscar not sure who Trinidad is". What shocked me most is when I asked them if they wanted a video of the fight I was drooling about - they just didn't seem to care... and yes, they had sky sports - for football.

But what alarms me more about this was the surely McCraken needed to be interviewed at some point - what did Rob put in his CV..... Training experience - ummm none!!!! His whole training experience has been based in the pro's. He retired and went straight away to work with Froch - he has no training experience otherwise - so did the AIBA's thought they were employing a raw novice.

Okay..... well with that said it is pretty naive in the ABA to appoint McCracken knowing this could always be a factor. I think most thought it was an "odd" appointment given McCracken's proffesional connections - Not sure how this also influenced the decision to let Woodhall go (with his connections to Broadhurst).

I applaud the ABA for appointing McCraken, but it was a bit dodgy and this could have happened, so it seems, at any time - and now a new coach has to be appointed with about 18 months ago till 2012 - not ideal times.

MachoMan09 wrote:

maxwelljr927 wrote:Absolutely Preposterous

Its time ENGLAND/GREAT BRITAIN nmoved with the times. For years the states have mixed the two. The uk are seriously missing out on LEARNING POSSIBLITIES.

Read the article again! It is the AIBA (International Amateur Boxing Association) that has enforced the ruling. Team GB had nothing to do with it.

Not sure if I've ever heard about Emmanuel Steward getting a roasting for hosting and training successive US amateur standouts prior to top international competitions. I am sure I've read a few things such as how grateful the US amateur bodies were for his help.

These pricks are really in the dark ages, pros have trained amateur boxers alongside professional boxer since the times of James Figg, No trainer worth the name would ever allow the pro to take advantage of a young amateur & the benefits to the amateur are beyond description

MachoMan09 wrote:

maxwelljr927 wrote:Absolutely Preposterous

Its time ENGLAND/GREAT BRITAIN nmoved with the times. For years the states have mixed the two. The uk are seriously missing out on LEARNING POSSIBLITIES.

Read the article again! It is the AIBA (International Amateur Boxing Association) that has enforced the ruling. Team GB had nothing to do with it.

OK fair enough but it still sucks.

What a complete load of sh1te this is. I'll bet you a pound to a pinch of snuff that there's a lot more to this than meets the eye.

What an absolute load of bollox this is. He has been with Froch for as long as I can remember and well before he got the GB job as well. Why are they not allowed to be involved in both, boxing is boxing at the end of the day.

stevek3lly wrote:What an absolute load of bollox this is. He has been with Froch for as long as I can remember and well before he got the GB job as well. Why are they not allowed to be involved in both, boxing is boxing at the end of the day.

didn't ingle train both pro's and am's at the same time ???

Too many people on the IOC who HATE boxing, you'll be lucky to see boxing in the olympics in 30 years from now. And then the AIBA can disappear into a puddle of shit.