Uzbek says he can save boxing

Moscow – An Uzbek businessman who is bidding to lead the International Boxing Association (AIBA) yesterday played down threats the sport will be thrown out of the Olympics if he wins a weekend vote.

Gafur Rakhimov, previously interim president and one of two candidates, has been linked to organised crime by the US Treasury Department.

The IOC has been losing patience with boxing since a judging scandal at the 2016 Rio Games when all 36 officials and referees were suspended while allegations of bout-fixing were investigated. –