WBC Removes Russian And Belarusian Fighters From Official Ranking

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JAKARTA The World Boxing Organization (WBC) approved a resolution to remove all Russian and Belarusian boxers from their official rankings.

The abolition was decided at a meeting of the WBC Board of Governors in Acapulco, Sunday, November 6 yesterday. This decision will soon take effect.

The measures will remain in effect until Ukraine can resume their normal boxing activities or when the WBC Council re-evaluates the situation and changes its decision.

"All boxers from Russia and Belarus were removed from the WBC rankings," said WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman, quoted by Sky Sport, Friday, November 11.

In addition, the WBC also decided not to approve any battles within Belarus and Russia and would not impose sanctions on any fight involving boxers from the two countries.

The WBC itself initially announced it would not impose sanctions on boxing in Russia the day after the country's invasion of Ukraine on February 24 this year.

"I would like to express our deep regret for the athletes, for the promoters, for members of the boxing industry from Russia and Belarus who will suffer the consequences of actions outside the ring," said Sulaiman.

However, for the particular case of citizens of the countries mentioned above who permanently live in other countries, become citizens of other countries, or live as refugees who publicly reject Russia's actions in the current situation are entitled to file a petition to the WBC.

As is known, the Russian military invasion has stopped all boxing activities in Ukraine. This is because many sports complexes and gamenasiums there were destroyed.

Ukrainians, including athletes, live in the threat of bombing and the deadly attacks they must constantly face on their own soil.