A new era has dawned in the sport of boxing for the Cayman Islands as its national organisation transfers governance from the International Boxing Association (IBA) to World Boxing.
The Cayman Islands Elite Boxing Federation, formerly known as the Cayman Islands Boxing Association, had their membership application to World Boxing approved.
“The establishment of the [Elite Boxing Federation] marks a fresh start, as our previous association, CIBA, was heavily linked to the IBA,” CIEBF president Alva Suckoo told the Compass in an emailed statement. “We felt that a new federation would better serve our goals and our athletes.”
This move to World Boxing comes as no surprise as the International Olympic Committee last year stripped the IBA of its status as boxing’s governing body over administrative and finance issues, with the latter reportedly tied to Russia.
World Boxing – formed in 2023 as a global governing body dedicated to ensuring the sport’s future in the Olympic Games – has assembled 37 national federations across every continent, including its latest four: Italy, South Korea, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands.
‘Best for our boxers’
Suckoo noted that the rigorous application process to join World Boxing ensured that all member federations, including Cayman, adhered to the highest standards.
“We are grateful to the International Boxing Association (IBA) for its assistance in the past. However, we must make decisions based on what is best for our boxers,” he said.
The transition to World Boxing was a foregone conclusion and a decision that Suckoo said was necessary, in order for Cayman to ensure opportunities at the highest level of amateur boxing.
While a boxer has never represented Cayman at the Olympics, Suckoo said that remains the dream of many, and hopes that this new chapter leads to Cayman producing its first boxing Olympian.
“We are thrilled to join World Boxing in their mission to keep boxing at the heart of the Olympic Movement,” Suckoo said, noting that the Cayman federation’s focus is on giving athletes the opportunity to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
“By partnering with World Boxing, we are ensuring that our athletes have a clear and supported path to represent us in the Olympic Games,” Suckoo said.
In addition, all gyms and boxing clubs looking to compete internationally for Cayman will now have to register “under one unified umbrella” – the Cayman Islands Elite Boxing Federation.
The local body said it has already engaged with World Boxing on how the international association could assist in the development of boxing in the Cayman Islands.
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