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WBC, IBF, WBA, WBO, IBO, NABF....I'm getting dizzy now.  But, when you think the organizations were at full capacity the President of AIBA Dr. Wu announced that AIBA will now bring about their own Professional Boxing Organization called the APB (AIBA Professional Boxing).  Will the land of Amateur Boxing change for better...or for worse?

After a two day trip in Washington DC for the ABC (Association of Boxing Commissions) Officials Seminar (which would of been a fantastic trip if my iPad wasn't stolen from me on the last day) I received an email from Paul O'Neil of AIBA with a Press Release about a "Big Announcement".  

At first I thought it was going to be the announcement of more franchises for the WSB (rumor has it that Memphis and Mexico City will not have a franchise for the second session but it has yet to be confirmed from AIBA, or denied thus far as well), but to my surprise it was the announcement that AIBA will now form a Professional Boxing Sanctioning body in the next two years or so.

Not only will they require the removal of the headgear and a scoring system similar to the WSB (Juniors, School-Age and Women's Divisions, however will still wear the head gear and singlets reportedly) for the Elite Class Fighters, it will also impose a Age limit as well with 19-40 years of age only (Sorry B-Hop).

This move can seem like a good one for Amateur Boxing in regards to training, development and even media coverage of up and comers giving the chance to travel around the world and compete and also to move onto the Pro Rankings of a division they are already involved in for a relatively smooth transition (No word on the USA Boxing Associations involvement in this matter), but with the announcement that "for the first year only current professional boxers can compete in the APB" this certainly brings an increase level of interest but also concerns as well.

It will also be interesting to see how the ABC (Association of Boxing Commissions) will welcome this "New" Sanctioning Body (if you will) into the American Landscape (Discussion of the WSB will actually take place at the Convention today or tomorrow).

Check out the press release from the organization detailing the APB and the possible scoring, ranking and format of the new body.

http://www.aiba.org/en-US/news/ozqsp/newsId/4047/news.aspx