THE Philippines and the rest of Asia are expected to be in full force when World Boxing holds its inaugural global tournament in Liverpool, England from Sept. 4 to 14, 2025, at the M&S Bank Arena.
In a strategic move to bolster its campaign for inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, World Boxing will feature elite competition across 10 weight classes for both men and women, marking a significant milestone for World Boxing.
The event promised to set new standards for international boxing, stirring a new world order for the sport that has recently been under fire from the International Olympic Committee.
The Philippines has recently solidified its influence in the Asian boxing scene with the appointment of Ricky Vargas, chairman of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) to the interim Executive Board of the newly formed Asian Boxing Federation.
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has officially recognized the Asian Boxing Federation as the accredited supervisor of the sport at the Southeast Asian and Asian Games. This recognition aligns closely with World Boxing’s strategic goal of becoming an IOC-affiliated international federation, further strengthening its bid for Olympic inclusion.
Vargas joins a distinguished team of boxing leaders on the Asian Boxing Federation’s interim Executive Board. The board includes Pichai Chunhavajira of Thailand, who serves as interim president, along with Jung Aehyun of Korea, Ali Takleef Shaheed of Iraq, Tatsuya Nakama of Japan, Darkhan Kyzaibayev of Kazakhstan, Tllanoev Shohid of Uzbekistan, Balanmunkh Maidar of Mongolia, and Ajay Singh of India.
The board’s mission is to elevate boxing across Asia while aligning with the global objectives of World Boxing. Their shared vision is encapsulated in the federation’s slogan: “One Spirit, One Goal, Olympic Boxing Glory.”
World Boxing is making significant strides toward achieving IOC recognition, which requires a minimum of 50 member nations.
According to ABAP Secretary-General Marcus Manalo, the organization has already surpassed this threshold, boasting of 60 member countries.
Recent additions include Cambodia, the Dominican Republic, Jordan, Myanmar, and Palestine, all approved during a recent Executive Board meeting, underscoring World Boxing’s expanding influence, particularly in Asia and the Middle East, as it continues to unite nations under its banner.
