Media Statement from AFBC President Eyassu Wossen Berhanu regarding IBA’s Unlawful Intervention

AFBC Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – June 5, 2025

The Global Boxing Community and Esteemed Members of the Media,
I address you today as the democratically elected President of the African Boxing Confederation (AFBC) to unequivocally condemn the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) unilateral imposition of a so-called “Normalization Committee” on our Confederation. This act is not only unconstitutional but represents a flagrant violation of the sovereignty, autonomy, and democratic will of African boxing.
The IBA’s decision starkly contravenes both the AFBC Constitution and the IBA's own statutes. Specifically:
•⁠ ⁠AFBC Constitution: Guarantees the Confederation’s autonomous legal status—an authority that has been blatantly ignored by this imposed committee.
•⁠ ⁠IBA Constitution (Article 14.5): Requires evidence of a "serious breach" before such a drastic intervention can occur. To date, no such breach has been proven or even properly presented.
Since January 2025, the AFBC has made repeated formal requests to be heard. These requests were ignored. The IBA has excluded the duly elected AFBC President and Board of Directors from consultation processes, in direct violation of the principles of fairness, transparency, and due process. Even more troubling, the IBA has failed to condemn the illegitimate actions of the rogue faction within AFBC—further exposing a pattern of selective justice and institutional bias.
The AFBC Ethics Committee, acting within its mandate, suspended members of the breakaway group. This decision was subsequently ratified by the 2024 AFBC Ordinary Congress in Dubai—an event held with full quorum, due process, and undeniable democratic legitimacy. Yet, the IBA dismissed this democratic mandate and chose to legitimize those who openly defied both AFBC and IBA rules.
Despite having withheld all financial support to the Confederation throughout 2025, I have personally covered operational costs—including the rent of the AFBC Headquarters and staff salaries—to ensure our Confederation remains active and functional. Thanks to the unwavering commitment of our Board of Directors and member federations, African boxing has not only survived this unjust pressure but continues to thrive. We have advanced competitions, delivered technical training, and launched development programs that reflect our resilience and capability.
Make no mistake: this so-called “Normalization Committee” is not an instrument of reform. It is a tool of political coercion, designed to dismantle an African leadership that has taken a firm stand against corruption and mismanagement. By choking operational funding and undermining our institutions, the IBA has attempted to destabilize AFBC and reverse the progress we’ve made.
Yet, under our administration, AFBC has achieved numerous milestones, including the establishment of headquarters in Addis Ababa, successfully organizing the African Youth Men’s and Women’s Championships in Conakry, Guinea, ending a seven-year hiatus in continental competitions—despite minimal support, launching continent-wide development programs, including extensive referee and judge training initiatives, and hosting Africa’s first-ever IBA Champions’ Night, demonstrating our capacity to deliver world-class boxing events. These achievements stand as a testament to African excellence in sports governance. We do not require foreign management to succeed—we simply need respect for our institutions and leaders.
Boxing in Africa is more than a sport. It is a platform for peace, a catalyst for youth empowerment, a tool for social change, and a source of national pride and economic opportunity. But its full potential has been stifled by external manipulation and unethical power plays. It is time to reclaim what is rightfully ours. In defense of our sovereignty and democratic order, the AFBC has officially filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to annul the IBA’s illegitimate committee. We are confident that justice will prevail.
I now call upon all African National Federations, athletes, coaches, and boxing supporters to stand firm with your constitutionally elected leadership. Today’s overreach by the IBA is not just an attack on AFBC—it is a dangerous precedent that threatens the very core of continental self-determination in sport.
Africa’s boxing destiny must be shaped by Africans. We reject all forms of neo-colonial interference disguised as governance. Let us unite to defend the integrity, autonomy, and future of boxing in Africa—a spirit of resistance and dignity that no external force can extinguish. 
As your President, I want to assure every National Federation and every boxer across this continent that I will fight relentlessly for the truth. I will ensure that your votes are honored, your voices are heard, and that the integrity and sovereignty of our beloved Africa will never be compromised.

Eyassu Wossen Berhanu
President, African Boxing Confederation (AFBC)