PHILIPSBURG--The International Boxing Association (IBA) will be electing a new president at their Extraordinary Congress in Istanbul Turkey this week.
Representing St. Maarten and ready to cast a vote is Saul Coffie. Coffie has been involved with the local boxing program since 2005. He has been a trainer, served as the National Team Coach and is currently on the board of the St. Maarten Boxing Association.
Running for president of the IBA are Umar Kremlev from Russia and Boris Van Der Vorst from The Netherlands.
St. Maarten qualified to vote by having a boxer participate in an IBA sanctioned event.
St. Maarten boxer Jean Clemon faced Carlos Mourinho Rodriguez Antonio in the Continental Championships in Guayaquil, Ecuador in April.
“This is a big step for us,” said Coffie. “Voting rights is our passport to bigger things.”
Already the IBA just donated boxing equipment like gloves and pads to St. Maarten.
“We are working on getting a real ring,” said Shawn Blair president of the St. Maarten Boxing Association.
“We have to thing big,” said Coffie. “What we need is a real training facility that all the sports can share.”
Also, on the IBA agenda is the election of directors, Secretary’s report, Confederation reforms, and election of an audit committee.
St. Maarten had been scheduled to host the Caribbean Boxing Championships in 2020 but the event was cancelled due to covid. St. Maarten had hoped to host this year but could not organize the funds so Dominica will host while St. Maarten works on hosting in 2023.
