AIBA President C K Wu travelled to the Caribbean to discuss development of the region's national boxing federations ©AIBA

International Boxing Association (AIBA) President C K Wu has met with the Caribbean National Federations to discuss their ongoing development and the signing of the HeadsUp! Charter.

Wu watched the finals of the Caribbean Development Tournament in Barbados before leading a meeting of governing body Presidents.

"The Caribbean has always produced excellent boxers and over the past few days I have seen first-hand the current vitality of the sport, the new generation of talent and the huge potential here for developing yet more great champions in the years to come," Wu said.

"This competition is a perfect example of how clusters of National Federations can work together to maximise their resources and enhance their global boxing stature, and AIBA is fully committed to supporting this kind of cooperation at every opportunity."

The HeadsUp! charter focuses on training boxers to maintain a heads-up stance to help prevent concussions and cuts.

Barbados played host to the second edition of the Development Tournament since its return from a 10-year hiatus.

Fourteen countries competed in the men’s and women’s elite and men's youth and junior competitions. 

The hosts' Kimberly Gittens showed once again why she is the best female boxer in the region, earning the light welterweight 64 kilograms title against the US Virgin Islands' Cindy Claudio.

Kimberly Gittens claimed the women's 64kg title at the tournament ©Barbados Boxing Association/Facebook
Kimberly Gittens claimed the women's 64kg title at the tournament ©Barbados Boxing Association/Facebook

It was the Guyana team that best displayed its strength overall though, securing eight golds in total including five in the men’s elite competition.

Having reached membership of 200 National Federation earlier this year, AIBA is "keenly pursuing a more open dialogue with its national federations in order to better understand their individual needs and help them to reach their goals".

In his meeting with the 24 Caribbean Federations, the Minister of Youth, Culture and Sports for Barbados Stephen Lashley, President of the Barbados Olympic Committee Steve Stoute and James Marshall, chairman of the Barbados Boxing Board of Control, outlined practical solutions to help develop the region’s boxing to Wu.

Specific short and long-term goals in the areas of marketing, competitions and training courses will continue to be underpinned by AIBA’s commitment to education and grassroots boxing through the HeadsUp! programme.