SCOTTISH TOUR
AIBA president visits Scotland for the first time
BOXING SCOTLAND welcomed the President of the International Boxing Association (AIBA), Dr. Ching-kuo Wu on a whistle-stop tour last week.
Boxing Scotland Chairman John Macpherson said: “This is a very important and significant event in promoting Scottish boxing and its wider sporting achievements, particularly as we look to fresh successes next year at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
“We are honoured and excited to welcome Dr Wu and his delegation, and believe there is a real opportunity here to invest in the future, both on a Scottish and global level.
“As mutual governing bodies with common aims, we share an unswerving belief in the power of boxing to transform lives, and hope to identify strategies that will assist in advancing the sport in Scotland and further afield.”
CK Wu, AIBA President said: “I am very pleased to come and witness for myself the current dynamic growth around Scottish boxing and the valuable programmes which the National Federation is initiating for the benefit of all boxers. During my visit, I will extensively assess and propose AIBA assistance in all matters that can contribute to even greater success for Scottish boxing in the ring and at grassroots level.”
The visit also provided an opportunity to highlight and promote the AIBA #Headsup! initiative – which aims to change perceptions around boxing by highlighting the positive aspects of the sport including discipline, training and sense of self – in turn engaging young people from clubs located in socially and economically deprived areas. An equipment donation will also be made on behalf of AIBA. “The visit will also form a key strategic building block in our efforts to help remedy deprivation and exclusion, not to mention the promotion of equality and the drive to improve mental and physical health,” Macpherson added. “It is so important that we look to engender strong sporting links to the wider social values and objectives of Scottish society.
“We are extremely proud of the work that we do in these areas, and look forward to enhancing those efforts in closer partnership with AIBA as we look to build an enduring relationship.”
MAY 24 saw an England Select travel to Edinburgh to take on a Scotland Select in front of AIBA President Dr Wu, writes Jamie Ingleby. England got off to a flyer with Joe Tyres at 56kgs and
Callum Thompson 60kgs taking unanimous decisions over their Scottish counterparts to give England a 2-0 lead. Next up saw Kira Carter at 50kgs drop a spilt decision to
Megan Gordon in the only female bout. Next up England’s Ryan Fillingham boxed at 62kgs against
Nathaniel Collins. The Scot took a razor-thin split decision to keep Scotland in the overall team match. Next up England’s Ibrahim Nadia at 52kgs lost a spilt decision to Faraz Ahmed giving Scotland the lead going into the final bout. The final bout at 81kg between Harry Woods (England) and Boris Crighton saw the more experienced Scot use his recent good form to take the win and the victory for Scotland overall.