The 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships get underway on Friday 25 August. For the past twelve months, AIBA has been working towards delivering the best possible stage for the boxers to perform on in Hamburg and, along with its partners, creating an unforgettable experience for the teams and fans alike. Ahead of the start of competition, AIBA President Dr Ching-Kuo Wu reveals the work done by the organisation to ensure that attention is placed squarely on the boxers during the upcoming nine days of first-class action in Hamburg.

Following the 2015 edition in Doha, how will Hamburg 2017 build on that great event?
This is set to be our biggest World Championships to date, and AIBA is ready to unveil an occasion and an event that befits the quality of the boxers that have come here to compete for the most prestigious title in the boxing world. We have 243 of the sport’s top athletes now in Hamburg ready to compete for the title of World Champion, and the increase in the number of National Federations represented than two years ago underlines the hard work AIBA has done over the past twelve months to broaden the global appeal of our sport and develop boxing talent around the world.

What will the new sponsors bring to these Championships?
As a direct result of the past year’s efforts strengthening the sport and reinforcing the positive message of boxing, we have been able to secure the financial and logistical support of top-tier sponsors like Adidas and Borgward. Our full compliance with WADA, new anti-doping practices, the strengthening of our relationship with the IOC and initiating legacy projects such as the Year of Africa alongside dozens of grassroots initiatives have all strengthened boxing and seen us herald in a new era that allows us to work with these well-respected brands. By successfully scaling up our flagship event, we have a structure that befits the boxers and that can offer the spectators and fans, both here in Hamburg and around the world, a more complete experience with unprecedented access to the action.

How else has the competition structure changed since the Rio 2016 Olympic Games?
Since Rio 2016 we have taken significant steps to ensure that the competition set up is as fair and transparent as possible. The introduction of the automated draw system to determine the Judges and the use of all five scorecards to score the bouts makes for more balanced results in what is an inherently subjective system. We have extended our continuing assessment of the R&J’s performance to ensure that best practice is maintained at all times, as well as producing substantial educational content to make sure the fans, boxers and coaches are fully aware of the rules and the criteria the Judges will be looking for when scoring the bouts.

Will the recent governance issues have any impact on these World Championships? 
AIBA’s focus is entirely on delivering a first-class event here in Hamburg that will show the world our sport at its very best. We continue to be absolute in our work because we are defending the interests of boxing, and the people who work every day for the sport know that.

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