The World Boxing Council has announced that it has taken steps to remove all Russian and Belarusian boxers from its rankings, excluding any citizens competing for their titles.
The ruling comes after a joint statement earlier this year by four major organizations – WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO – in which they pledged not to punish attacks in the two countries in response to the invasion. Ukraine.
Conflict has had huge ramifications in sport. Ukrainian boxers like Oleksandr Usyk and Vasiliy Lomachenko have been affected personally, and only recently returned to the ring to resume their careers. Two of the strongest contenders in history are on the front lines. Brothers Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko became the face of the country’s defense as the whole world watched in horror. Vitaly is the mayor of Kiev, the capital city of Ukraine.
WBC President, Mauricio Sulaiman, announced the decision at the sanctioning body 60th Annual Convention.
“All fighters from Russia and Belarus are being excluded from the WBC rankings.”
“WBC will not sanction any matches in those two countries and no nationals from those two countries can compete for the WBC title.”
“I would like to express our deep regret to the athletes, promoters, members of the boxing industry from Russia and Belarus, who will have to bear the consequences of the actions outside. out in the ring.”
“WBC believes in peace, in fair game and in human dignity.”
The WBC states that ‘any specific case of being a citizen of either of those countries permanently residing in other countries, being a citizen of other countries or being a refugee, who has publicly denied abandon Russia’s actions’ will have the right to petition the authorities for reconsideration.
Notable exceptions are expected to include Artur Betterbiev, who, despite representing Russia in the Olympics, lives in Canada. He currently holds the WBC Light Heavyweight belt, with several famous fights in the works.
