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World championships
The Federation de Boxe Amateur (FIBA) was formed in 1920 when delegates of (5) countries met in Paris. The (FIBA) was the sports first 'World Governing Body'. John Douglas (Olympic Championo, 1908) was appointed 'President' and Mr Val Barker as 'Honorary Secretary', both Englishman. The (FIBA) adopted all the 'rules of boxing' of the ABA without change. By 1926 (25) countries had affiliated to the (FIBA).
In 1946, (23) representative countries agreed to disband the (FIBA) and form the Association Internationale de Boxe Amateur. The AIBA was born. Mr A Gremaux (French) became President and, Dr J Wyatt (President of the English (ABA) became 'President of Honour'.
The first 'World Championship's were held in Havana (Cuba) in 1974. Some (274) boxers from (45) countries entered. The ABA did not send either a team or a single boxer. The reason given was 'it felt no one boxer was of the required standard'. Unsurprisingly, Cuban finished with (5) World Champions. Teofilo Stevenson (three times Olympic Champion went onto win three World Championships).
The ABA of England again did not send a team to the 1978 World Championships (Yugoslavia). The first English representatives were at the 1982 World Championships in Munich (West Germany). These were, Jeff Decker 60kg (Whitley ABC) and Cameron Lithgow 71kg (Park Youth ABC).
The 1986 World Championships), held in Reno (USA) the ABA of England sent a team of ; John Davidson 57kg (Grainger ABC), Neil Foran 60kg (Rotunda ABC) and John Beckles 81kg (Islington ABC). Once again no medals.
The Sydney World Games (Australia) became a 'qualifying' event for the 1992 Barcelona (Spain) Olympic Games. This was one of the (6) qualifying tournaments and the first time a boxer had to qualify for the Olympic Games. Also headguards became mandatory. This was first recommended at the 1965 Berlin European Championships.
The 1993 World Championships in Tampere (Finland) witnessed the introduction of publicised scores at the end of each round.
The 1995 Berlin (Germany) World Champions saw the introduction of 'seedings' in each weight. Those seedings were to be based on the 1994 AIBA ranking list. 1997 saw the increase in the age limit of boxers from (32) years to (35) years of age.
England had to wait until the World Championships of 2001 (held in Belfast, Ireland) to secure its first medals! In 2001 England collected a silver medal (David Hayes, 91kg, Whitley Bay ABC) and bronze medal (Carl Froch 75kg, Phoenix ABC). Followed up with a bronze medal in 2005 (Mianyang, China) by Neil Perkins 69kg (Kirkdale ABC).
The World Championships now attract over (184) countries and around (500) boxers. The next World Championships are to be held in Chicago, USA November 2007.