BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) - The International Boxing Federation (IBF) is about to launch the Silk Road Championship Tournament, IBF China announced here on Friday.
During the week-long IBF 34th Annual Convention in St. Petersburg, Florida, IBF executive officers along with representatives and boxing promoters from the Belt & Road (B&R) Region met to discuss the establishment of the IBF B&R Region and the launching of the IBF Silk Road Championship Tournament.
The purpose of this tournament is to stimulate boxing in the region and provide a platform, not only for fighters to develop their professional boxing careers, but also to provide opportunities for promoters in the region to produce quality boxing events for boxing fans to enjoy as well.
The IBF will first establish the IBF B&R Region within the organization and create the IBF B&R Title. Ultimately, tournament champions and leading fighters will be eligible for consideration for the IBF World Ratings.
The IBF expects this plan to draw to the organization talented fighters from this region seeking a path to world championship opportunities. It also plans to use the tournament to bolster the talent levels within its ranks.
The first IBF B&R Championship Tournament is planned to take place in October of 2017 in China, and will be tied in with an IBF B&R Regional Convention. The governing body also planned to establish an IBF B&R headquarters in China.
The forthcoming founding of the IBF B&R Region will be an effort to enhance sports and cultural exchange among countries and regions along the B&R, and bring new business opportunities for the regional sports industry, according to IBF China.
"The IBF was extremely pleased with the enthusiastic reception this plan received at this preliminary meeting," said IBF President Daryl Peoples.
"The meeting was very constructive, yielding positive feedback and eagerness to lay the groundwork for this new and exciting endeavor. The IBF is the first world sanctioning body to apply the B&R development plan to its activities demonstrating our focus and commitment to China and the region," added Peoples.
