WBA returns Russian and Belarusian boxers to the ratings

Umar Kremlev and Gilberto Jesus Mendoza
Umar Kremlev and Gilberto Jesus Mendoza

After a meeting on Tuesday over the comments of former world welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi, the WBA decided to restore Russian and Belarusian boxers in their ratings. At the same time, the WBA clarifies that athletes should not participate in the war against Ukraine and should not openly support it. At the beginning of the war, the WBA voted to exclude Russian and Belarusian boxers from the ratings and not sanction WBA fights in these countries.

It is also worth noting that WBA President Gilberto Jesús Mendoza and the head of the IBA, Russian Umar Kremlev, who is associated with Gazprom, took a picture together a few days ago and announced cooperation.