Decision day for Scottish boxing

Friday 28 January 2000

The future of Scottish boxing will be decided on Saturday 12 February 2000 when Scotland’s amateur boxing clubs vote on whether to accept their Interim Management Team’s recommendations for the establishment of a new body to run the sport in Scotland.

Failure to endorse the new organisation, Amateur Boxing Scotland Ltd, and its constitution at the EGM of the Scottish Amateur Boxing Association (SABA) and Scottish Amateur Boxing Federation (SABF) would throw the sport back into chaos.

Concerns over the running of the sport first prompted the then Scottish Sports Council (now sportscotland) to take the unprecedented step of intervening and setting up an Independent Commission, chaired by Barry McGuigan, to look at the future development of the sport in Scotland.

To enable open discussion of the proposals, copies of the Constitution for the proposed new body have been distributed to all registered SABA and SABF clubs in Scotland with a series of public meetings being held in the lead up to the vote.

The venues and times for the open meetings are:

Monday 31 January, 6.30-8.30pm
Moat House Hotel, Congress Road, Glasgow

Tuesday 1 February, 6.30-8.30pm
Apex International Hotel, Grassmarket, Edinburgh

Thursday 3 February, 7.30-9.30pm
Tree Tops Hotel, Springfield Road, Aberdeen

Tony Dawson, Chairman of the Interim Management Team, said, “The change of name to Amateur Boxing Scotland represents a fresh start for boxing in Scotland and puts the past behind it.  In my opinion, if Scottish boxing is to progress, the change of name is essential.

“These changes are the first step in the modernisation and resurgence of Scottish boxing.  Once passed they will open the door for a reintroduction of financial assistance from funding agencies, the revitalisation of development schemes at all levels and full time professional assistance in the administration of the sport in Scotland.

“None of this can be achieved without the support of clubs in passing the new Constitution at their EGM and giving a clear commitment to support the work of Amateur Boxing Scotland in developing the sport in our country.

“Failure to endorse the new Constitution can only result in further division in the sport causing more problems for those who matter most, namely the boxers themselves.”