(APR 4) As we reported recently a new scoring system has been introduced - among many other changes - by the AIBA - effective 11th March.

To ensure that everyone involved is fully committed to - and understands - the new system Referees and Judges from many countries (including Ireland's Michael Gallagher, twice winner of the AIBA R+J annual award) are attending the International Boxing Association (AIBA) AOB/APB/WSB Referees & Judges Instructors Workshop which began in the city of Assisi, Italy on April 3rd.

Last month, AIBA announced not only the launch of a new scoring system but also the removal of head guards in all Elite Men’s competitions. These major changes affect the Refereeing and Judging in AIBA’s three competition programs: AIBA Open Boxing (AOB), World Series of Boxing (WSB) and AIBA Pro Boxing (APB).

This Workshop’s main objective is to prepare and certify R&J Instructors who will be holding courses at all levels in each National Federation and/or Continental Confederation.

The opening speech was given by Mr Franco Falcinelli, EUBC (European Boxing Confederation) President on behalf of Dr Ching-Kuo Wu, AIBA President. He explained that for the first time, AIBA had produced R&J Teaching Manuals for Instructors for all three levels.

He complimented the 5-Star R&Js who contributed with great efforts to the development of this Manual under the leadership of Mr Ray Silvas, main Instructor at the Workshop and AIBA Refereeing & Judging Commission Member.

Dr Wu’s message was: “At the end of this Workshop, I am confident that all of you will have the capability to implement good courses and seminars so that all AIBA R&Js at all levels are able to come with the fairest results in all AOB, WSB and APB competitions”.


To obtain the certification, the candidates require to successfully going through a public speaking assessment and a written examination. Once this gathering is completed, AIBA plan to send an application form to each of its National Member Federations for them to apply for hosting Referees & Judges training courses.

A total of 35 candidates, including active 5-Star and 3-Star R&Js as well as International Technical Officials and Commission Members from around the world are taking part in this Workshop.

List of participants

SILVAS Ray (USA -Instructor)
ASANAU Siarhei (Belarus)
AGDANAVICIUS Kestutis (Lithuania)
BASI Mik (England)
BOSELLI Luiz (Brazil)
BRAHAM Mohamed (Tunisia)
BROVIL Lars (Denmark)
CAULFIELD Andrew (Scotland)
CINAR Yasar (Turkey)
DA SILVA Mauro (Brazil)
DE CASTRO Dante (Philippines)
FIACCO Pat (Canada)
GALLAGHER Michael (Ireland)
GERMAIN Tony (Canada)
GORNY Mariusz (Poland)
HUSEYNOV Rovshan (Azerbaijan)
JUST Rene (Slovakia)
KANG Sukku (Korea)
KARAKULOV Mykola (Ukraine)
KELLY Seamus (Ireland)
KOWLI Jay (India) LAINE Jean-Robert (France)
LAZIZI Athmane (Algeria)
MADFOUA Fathi (France)
MALYSHEV Vladislav (Russia)
MCFARLANE Daniel (England)
NORDIN Stefan (Sweden)
POGGI Gerardo (Argentina)
ROOS Allan (Finland)
ROSE Wayne (Australia)
RYSBAYEV Rakhymzhan (Kazakhstan)
SERVIDE Roberto (Argentina)
SIDI YAKOUB Kheira (Algeria)
SZALMA Zoltan (Hungary)
WAITH John (Wales)
WANG Dexin (China)

The AIBA has been holding such workshops in other regions also, especially with the aim of further improving standards since some controversial decisions in the men's tournament were met by disbelief by sections of the media and by fans of the sport.

So will we see fewer controversial decisions in future as a result of these workshops and the introduction of the "10 points must" scoring system? Only time will tell but certainly there is a real determination on the part of the AIBA to ensure that all of their Referees and Judges are "singing from the same hymn sheet".

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