The top brass of the African Boxing Union (ABU) has announced the disbandment of the West African Boxing Union (WABU). The announcement was made at an executive meeting of the ABU in Lagos on Wednesday, February 12th.
The meeting chaired by the (ABU) president Houcine Houichi, also had in attendance its General Secretary Maureen Mulangira, as well as other executive members. In his address, the ABU boss said going by several disturbing reports on the knavery activities of the West African Boxing Union (WABU) the ABU had decided to dissolve the body’s activities until investigations are completed.
Some of the allegations against the leadership of the West African Boxing Union include Blackmail and Manipulation, Threats and Intimidation of stakeholders, Illegal Activities and Financial Misappropriation, Exploitation of Boxers and Promoters, and Influencing of bouts decisions.
Others are Sabotage of Sponsorship and Double-Crossing, Hindering New Promoters, Spreading False Information, Excessive Tenuress and Constitutional Violation,s, amongst others.
According to Houichi, the issue has been directed to its Ethics and Disciplinary Committee, which is expected to work closely with a special task force on further investigation of the matter.
“The African Boxing Union is a very reputable body and it’s expected that other affiliated groups will uphold the same level of integrity, we have looked at the very weighty complaints against the leadership of WABU in the past few months, and we thought it wise to dissolve its operations for now so the issues can be properly addressed”
The ABU boss further urged boxing promoters and other stakeholders to henceforth disassociate themselves with the leadership of WABU as any activity carried out with said body would be treated as illegal.
“The operations of WABU remain dissolved until every issue around its operations is vividly addressed, so I will urge promoters, as well as other stakeholders, to suspend their collaborations with WABU as any further activities will be in breach of the ABU’s position”.
The entire executive members of the African Boxing Union (ABU) unanimously uphold the body’s resolve on WABU.