The ABAE is currently advertising for a chief executive, although King has reapplied for the role and remains a strong contender to retain his job after success which has included three English medals for Great Britain at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

Since 2005, King has undertaken the role on a secondment agreement with his employers Liverpool City Council but as this ceases on March 31 the ABAE board has decided to appoint a full-time chief executive.

But Wu, who fell out dramatically with King last year after the Englishman and former AIBA Executive Committee Member launched an ambitious and ultimately unsuccessful bid for Wu's AIBA Presidency, has unsurprisingly stated that he would like to see a new chief executive take the helm at the ABAE.

Wu, who is also a highly influential International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, told insidethegames: "The Amateur Boxing Association of England is a hugely important national federation to AIBA.

"Not only has England been one of AIBA's greatest allies in the past, but they are also the hosts of the next Olympic Games in London in 2012.

"We have our boxing test event taking place in London later this year and I hope the Amateur Boxing Association of England will be under new leadership by then so we are able to rebuild the close friendship we have had in the past.

"AIBA do not forget all the great support that England has given it in the past.

"Things have obviously been very difficult between AIBA and England recently because of one man but we are very hopeful that with a new leader, we can restore our great relationship."


King, who failed in his bid to challenge Wu for the AIBA top spot at the organisation's Congress in Kazakhstan last November after failing to secure the 20 required nominations from national associations, was highly critical of the Taiwanese President in his campaign claiming that they had imposed an "unfair suspension" on more than 70 national federations who were not allowed to attend the Congress.

Wu rebuffed the claims, stating that he simply wanted national federations to follow the rules and that King, as an AIBA Executive Committee Member, had originally agreed to the ruling.

Things further soured between the pair when King boycotted the AIBA Congress in Kazakhstan and sent a letter addressed to boxing friends and family in which he slammed the AIBA's leaders - including chief executive Ho Kim - for being deceptive.

King also threatened legal action which was set to postpone the Congress in Kazakhstan before it was rejected in a Swiss district court in Lausanne.

With relations between the pair apparently irreconcilable, Wu's desire for a new chief executive is perhaps understandable.

The AIBA President, who is serving his second term in the role after he was voted in by acclamation at the Congress in Kazakhstan, also stated he would like to bring the new AIBA World Series of Boxing (WSB) tournament to London at some point in the future.

"We would love to have a London franchise at some stage," he said.

"London was where the first ever draft for the competition took place and we were always hopeful of having them involved.

"It was unfortunate that they were not a part of the first season but we hope that we can have discussions that will see them join one day not too long from now."

The closing date for applications for the ABAE position is today with interviews set to take place on January 28.

Former Sports Minister and President of the ABAE, Richard Caborn, told insidethegames: "I am surprised that the President of AIBA has taken this unprecedented step and chosen to express his personal opinion at a time when the ABAE is going through a recruitment process that aims to build on the success it has had in the last five years in growing participation and delivering elite medal success.

"I agree that CK Wu is right to say 'the Amateur Boxing Association of England is a hugely important national federation to AIBA' and am keen for us to develop a relationship which recognises this and will enable the sport of amateur boxing to benefit from the 2012 Olympic Games."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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