Has the WBA already broken its new policy sanctioning Russian boxers? On March 1st, in response to the Russian invasion of the Ukraine, the WBA announced, "the WBA will exclude Russian and Belarusian boxers from the next ranking lists. The measure is temporary and will be reviewed month by month." Less than a week later, the WBA has approved a Russian  featherweight, Andranik Grigorian, to fight in an eliminator for its #2 spot in the 126-pound division. According to a press release, this past Friday at the Warriors Boxing Gym in Miami, a media day was held for a March 26th WBA featherweight eliminator between Grigorian (15-1 including the World Series of Boxing) and Kazakhstan's Otabek Kholatov (9-0, 9 KOs). The March 26th event will take place at The Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida and will be the premiere telecast of Bally Sports’ new fight series aired on Bally Sports Network, Bally Sports app and Display TV. The show will be promoted by American Dream Presents in association with Box Lab Promotions.

 

MARCH 1st report:

 

The WBA went further than any other sanctioning body, removing many-- but not all-- Russian and Belarusian boxers from its world rankings. Like every other major organization, the WBA will not sanction any world and/or regional title bouts in Russia as a result of Russia's indefensible invasion of the Ukraine. In ratings issued today, Russian boxers were removed with their spot in the rankings, to be replaced by a "not rated" placeholder. However, Russian champions such as Dmitry Bivol were not stripped. Strangely, cruiserweight Alexsei Egorov was left in the rankings, as were super middleweight Fedor Chudinov, middlewight Magomed Madiev, lightweight Zapir Rasulov, lightweight Roman Andreev and featherweight Andranik Gregorian.

 

Here is the full text of the WBA statement:

 

1. The WBA will exclude Russian and Belarusian boxers from the next ranking lists. The measure is temporary and will be reviewed month by month. Current world or regional champions will maintain their status, and this will also be subject to review by the respective Committee.

 

2. We reaffirm the non-sanctioning of world and/or regional bouts in Russia.

 

3. Russian and Belarusian officials will also be banned from participating in world and/or regional championship fights, according to a resolution from the WBA Executive Committee.

 

4. Russian fighters will not be allowed to enter the ring with their flag, their anthem will not be played and the country will not be named. 

 

5. Promoters or teams of Russian boxers who violate this provision may be sanctioned.

 

6. WBA reserves the right to exclude from its rankings boxers who are in favor of the war.

 

7. All measures shall be applied to Belarus.

 

8. All managers, promoters, trainers affiliated to the World Boxing Association will, to the best of their ability, seek mediation mechanisms for peace.

 

9. WBA will launch a campaign for peace. 

 

The WBA through its president Gilberto Jesus Mendoza and its directorate is committed to carry out all necessary actions to achieve peace. The measures we are announcing today are provisional and of immediate effect. They may be amplified or suspended as the situation progresses.