By Nick Butler

AIBA President CK Wu is hoping to increase the number of events for female boxers on the Olympic programme ©AFP/Getty ImagesInternational Boxing Association (AIBA) President CK Wu has confirmed he will stand for a third and final term at the helm of the sport, with increasing the number of events for female boxers on the Olympic programme a major part of his future vision.


The 67-year-old former International Olympic Committee (IOC) Presidential candidate will stand for re-election at the AIBA Congress being held alongside the Women's World Championships in Jeju Island, South Korea, on November 14.

After the highly successful debut of female boxing at London 2012, the Taiwanese official believes women deserve more categories so as to provide a greater opportunity to compete at the Olympic Games.

Currently, with competition only taking place for under 51, under 60 and under 75 kilogram divisions, boxers who sit in between these categories face the difficult decision of either gaining or losing sufficient weight, or fight against rivals who are far heavier than them.

But Wu, also a member of the IOC's ruling Executive Board, admits this will not be an easy process, both because of the need to avoid sacrificing any male events and because of the IOC's reluctance to add new events within existing sports.

Instead of removing any male categories, he hopes to reduce the number of boxers in each weight category in order to ensure a greater number of divisions.

There are 10 female divisions at the World Championships but only three at the Olympic Games ©AFP/Getty ImagesThere are 10 female divisions at the World Championships but only three at the Olympic Games ©AFP/Getty Images



"We need to study and, hopefully in the near future, insert one or two more events so the majority of female boxers are able to compete in the Olympics," he told insidethegames.

"This will not be easy, because we need to consider the Olympic programme overall.

"We need to think very carefully about how to comfortably include men and women in the Olympics.

"The tradition and history of male boxing has existed for a long time, and once we reduce categories it would create difficulties.

"So we are looking at whether we can absorb new events within the existing quota, by keeping a total number of 286 boxers across male and female events, but make some internal adjustments."

With the gains made for female boxers a major achievement of his first two terms in office, Wu also reflected on the improvements made and looked ahead with excitement to the World Championships, although he did admit the absence of Great Britain's reigning Olympic and Commonwealth champion Nicola Adams through injury would be a "blow".

Speaking shortly after the conclusion of Nanjing 2014, Wu also speculated that changes could be made to the Youth Olympic programme, something else that could leave a strong personal legacy to the sport.

"With the Youth Olympics, every International Federation is now thinking about creating something, of the same nature and the same sport, but of a different format," he told insidethegames.

"So it can involve more young people and give them experience about the sport.

"I have issued this concept to our technical rule commission to study and discuss with the IOC this concept, for the Youth Olympics only, this is so important for the future, we need to create something not exactly the same."

Although no specific ideas have yet been announced, it can be assumed team competitions, shorter bouts and different formats of bouts will be among ideas being proposed, in a similar vein to the innovations seen across many other sports in Nanjing. 

Following the success of Nanjing 2014, Wu is also planning innovative changes to the Youth Olympic boxing programme ©Getty ImagesFollowing the success of Nanjing 2014, Wu is also planning innovative changes to the Youth Olympic boxing programme ©Getty Images



As well as the removal of headguards in men's boxing, another major achievement engineered by Wu has been the revolutionary AIBA Pro Boxing Competitions, set to be launched for the first time next month.

This formed a major component of an official letter sent to the AIBA National Member Federations outlining his plans to stand again.

"I am greatly proud of what was achieved in the last four years together with you," he said.

"As a true team, we progressed together on all projects and accomplished all objectives which were set at the 2010 AIBA Congress.

"These achievements would indeed not have been possible without your faithful trust and love for our sport.

"Therefore, I have decided to run again for the AIBA Presidency to serve another four years and to continue enhancing all the AIBA programmes together with you for more great achievements in all areas."

Wu succeeded Anwar Chowdhry as President, a Pakistani whose reign was overshadowed by allegations of widespread corruption and who in 2007 was barred for life from any involvement with AIBA for alleged mismanagement of ts funds.

It is not yet known if Wu will stand unopposed this time around or whether challengers will come forward, with two months remaining until the decision is made.

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