Unprecedented Movement Within the World Boxing Association (WBA)
By Abdel Aziz Fadili
Last weekend witnessed an unprecedented activity in the boxing world with the election of former world champion Gennady Golovkin as president of the World Boxing Association (WBA), Canadian Rabin Oushé as vice president, and German Michael Müller and Japanese Tatsuya Nakamura winning seats on the executive council.
The selection of Canadian Rabin Oushé clearly reflects the contours of a new phase within the association, marked by the resurgence of influence from Western countries with strong institutional presence, extensive organizational experience, and the capability to engage with both government and sports institutions simultaneously.
Michael Müller’s victory for a seat on the executive council was not arbitrary; historically, Germany has been one of the most stable and present associations in international administrative structures. Müller’s entry brings a strict European administrative mentality based on transparency and governance, indicating WBA’s desire to reorganize from within.
As for Tatsuya Nakamura, he represents the most disciplined and advanced Asian school in sports infrastructure. Nakamura’s presence in the council means an influx of strong technical and organizational vision aimed at developing championships and scheduling competitions.
As the association rearranges its system, and the world reserves its seats, the question arises regarding the complete absence of African and Arab representation. Have our federations become mere facades with no ties to decision-making centers?
