Aiba World Boxing Championships |23 October 2021
Three challenge for a piece of silverware in Belgrade
Three Seychellois boxers left the country last night for Belgrade, Serbia to take part in the International Boxing Association World Boxing Championships 2021, slated to begin tomorrow, October 24.
They are Keddy Agnes (super heavyweight, +92kg), Shain Boniface (welterweight, 67kg) and Fabio Roselie (lightweight, 60kg). The boxers are accompanied by coach Gerry Legras.
The delegation’s trip is being financed by the National Sports Council, Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association and the International Boxing Association (Aiba).
The World Boxing Championships is the main event on Aiba calendar for the year 2021 and the finals are to take place on November 5 and 6.
The championships will feature 13 categories for the first time in Aiba's history after the weight classes were increased from 10 to 13 from August 2021. The minimum weight has been reduced to 48kg from 49kg.
The 13 weight categories for men are: minimum weight (46kg to 48kg), flyweight (51kg), bantamweight (54kg), featherweight (57kg), lightweight (60kg), light welterweight (63.5kg), welterweight (67kg), light middleweight (71kg), middleweight (75kg), light heavyweight (80kg), cruiserweight (86kg), heavyweight (92kg), super heavyweight (+92kg).
The women’s classes are: minimum weight (46-48kg), light flyweight (50kg), flyweight (52kg), bantamweight (54kg), featherweight (57kg), lightweight (60kg), light welterweight (63kg), welterweight (66kg), light middleweight (70kg), middleweight (75kg), light heavyweight (81kg), and heavyweight (+81kg).
At least 650 boxers from more than 100 countries and regions have registered for the championship and the total prize fund to be distributed is US $2.6 million, with each gold medallist receiving US $100,000. The silver medallists will get US $50,000 and the bronze medallists US $25,000.
Aiba has also decided to introduce commemorative belts and white gloves, instead of the traditional red and blue, during the championship in Belgrade.
Gerard Govinden