Tycoon to face punch of congress
Sanabo adopts waiting stance on open boxing saga
row over the presidency of Dr Wu Ching Kuo of Taiwan after his executive members passed a vote of no confidence on him during a meeting in Moscow recently.
The rebel group led by Wales’ Terry Smith appointed an interim management committee to run operations after first locking the offices of Aiba headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.
However, Kuo has since won a court order which sought to appoint a provisional administrative structure.
The matter will now be heard in court next Thursday.
The Taiwanese tycoon’s fate will be decided in an extraordinary congress scheduled to be held within three months and possibly in Dubai.
He is accused of serious financial irregularities, particularly stemming from marketing companies he formed to support Aiba’s invasion into professional boxing through the World Series of Boxing and Pro Boxing.
Kuo has also been accused of dictatorship after he came down hard on officials within the association perceived to be in conflict with his vision.
The saga has been exacerbated by the resignations of treasurer David Francis and financial director Rob Garea in what is seen as them escaping the blame for questionable transactions.
However, Kuo is believed to be banking on African support, especially as the continent benefited from his Year of Africa (YoA) legacy project.
There are about 54 federations in Africa but it is yet to be seen if they will support him, especially after African Boxing Confederation (AFBC) president Kilani Bayor sent them a memo to support the move to oust Kuo.
The programme proceeded to South Africa with Mdantsane playing host for three weeks just last month.
SA National Boxing Organisation (Sanabo) president Andile Mofu confirmed receiving Bayor’s memo but said his organisation was yet to take a stand on the saga.
“At this stage, we are not supporting anyone as the matter is sub judice until the court makes a ruling on August 17,” he said.
Mofu said Sanabo would follow the due process and take appropriate action at the extraordinary congress.
His sentiments echoed those of the Philippines amateur body which was also quoted as observing the developments before taking a stand.
In an Aiba congress held in 2014 in Jeju Island in South Korea attended by this scribe, Kuo promised to clean the image of amateur boxing, now called open boxing.
However, if the allegations against him stick and the move to oust him succeed, he will face an embarrassing exit which may force him to jump ship to save his dignity.
Meanwhile, Sanabo is running a course for referees and judges in East London, which started yesterday. Mofu said about 80 officials are attending the course which will conclude tomorrow.