The President of the Boxing Federation of Ukraine – about the plans, goals and next steps of the organization
On August 9, the Conference of the Boxing Federation of Ukraine will take place. At it, the delegates must approve the FBU committees, the head coaches of the national teams, the new head of the refereeing committee and many other important decisions that the new leadership “did not reach” because of the large-scale war unleashed by Russia against our country.
In an interview with Sport Arena, Kirill Shevchenko, elected President of the FBU on February 22, who has been defending our country with weapons in his hands since the first days of the war, spoke about the organization’s plans, about its former head, as well as the situation in Ukrainian boxing.
– Which Boxing Federation is now legitimate: yours, or the one headed by Vladimir Prodivus?
– Whatever the former leaders of the Boxing Federation of Ukraine say, the Conference held on February 22 and its results are recognized in Ukraine by all organizations responsible for the development of sports in our country. I mean the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, as well as the National Committee of the country. Also, the results and results of the Conference, including my election as the President of the FBU, are registered by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine.
The Boxing Federation of Ukraine will have a new seal, it is also registered with the Ministry of Justice, new reporting forms, etc. We were forced to take such a step, given that the Prodivus team was not going to give up the old seal.
– If everything is clear with Ukraine, then how are things going with international recognition, or, let’s say, legitimization of the new leadership of the FBU? The International Boxing Association stated that it considers the latter to be the legitimate FBU President Vladimir Prodivus. The European Boxing Confederation has announced that it will recognize the united Boxing Federation of Ukraine.
– We have already sent letters to the European Boxing Confederation, whose president is Janis Philippatos, and to the International Boxing Association, which is headed by Prodivus’ friend, Russian Umar Kremlev. But there, in addition to the Kremlin, everything is decided by the board of directors. I do not think that it is beneficial for the Kremlin to support Prodivus in this matter now – he was tricked into joining the AIB, being illegitimately elected president of the FBU. As far as Europe is concerned, Giannis Philippatos is on our side. So I do not think that there will be any spokes in the wheel from the International Boxing Association.
— Who from Ukraine will go to the AIB Congress, where there will be, among other things, the election of the president of the organization: representatives of your team or the Prodivus team?
“There is no doubt that Prodivus and members of his team will go there to seek favor. But only our delegates will be legitimate from Ukraine. Plus, Prodivus and his associates submitted many different people to various commissions of the European Boxing Confederation, whose candidacies were rejected. Now we have to submit new ones.
On August 9, we will hold the Ukrainian Boxing Federation Conference, where new coaches of all teams, Federation commissions, referees and delegates to European commissions will be elected.
– At whose expense, or at what expense, is the Boxing Federation now functioning? Does AIBa or the European Confederation help her?
– AIBa – does not help. And why should we help if there is budget funding for adult teams, as well as small funds for youth teams. We will find funds for the rest of the teams ourselves, the Ministry of Youth does not finance them. Yes, and I do not want to ask: this is not unaffordable money.
Now there was a meeting – Ilya Gurinovich, who held two positions in the old Federation, signed the documents himself and conducts it himself. I came, talked to the guys, wished them success.
I was against this collection – it is not needed at the moment, a large budget has been spent. But, such a thing: he signed the documents for him without me and already, when everyone arrived, do not cancel them. Let Gurinovich, as a signatory, be responsible for this.
— Did the Prodivus team contact you in general? At least in terms of transferring cases and, perhaps, continuing to work in the Federation?
– I respected some of them – they served boxing. But today, alas, the war has shown who is who. Everyone understands perfectly well that Prodivus left the country, left, embraces the Kremlin, who openly supports Putin and the war unleashed by Russia. But they keep following Prodivus. In my opinion, this is no longer a sports or managerial issue, but a purely human one. Of course, everything will be decided by the Conference and elections, real ones, and not like those of the old president, but personally I don’t want to see these people in the leadership of the country’s Boxing Federation.
I used to have a principle: twice I forgive, the third – no. But now, from the height of the past years, I understand that it makes no sense to forgive even those who once betrayed. Especially in the current situation, when it is, I repeat, not about sports, but about, excuse the arrogance, about universal human and life principles. If you betrayed the country, left it at a difficult time and behave like an open collaborator, we simply have nothing to talk about. This is no longer about boxing, but about our country, for which many boxers gave their lives in the war.
Moreover, for Prodivus’s money, his team continues to do nasty things. God is their judge. I have said more than once: let him spend this money on charity or the army rather than on dirty deeds that bring confusion and split into Ukrainian boxing. I repeat once again: unfortunately, the war has shown who is who.
I headed the Kyiv Boxing Federation for 13 years and everything was fine. There are many Presidents of the Regional Federations who lived perfectly before Prodivus and without him and will live after him. They finance everything themselves, they know what and how to do. So I don’t think we need anyone.
As for coaches, heads of commissions and committees, we will decide everything jointly, by a majority when voting at the Conferences and the executive committee. Perhaps minor issues that do not require the convening of a conference will be decided by the leadership of the Federation.
— The leadership of the Federation will remain the same that was chosen at the conference on February 22?
– Not. We did not choose the FBU Executive Committee then, plus we will elect more vice-presidents. Let me explain: there are people who want to help develop and finance boxing. I don’t care how many vice presidents there will be: if a person wants to help with deeds or money, he must work.
– There is not so much time before the 2024 Olympics. If boxing is left in the program of the Games, will your team have time to do all the necessary work so that Ukrainian boxers go to the Olympics in Paris?
– Without a doubt. Work is already underway, the office is open. Dmitry Eliseev, our honored man in boxing, president of the Donetsk Region Federation, has not yet been appointed, but does the work of the general secretary. After the August 9 Conference, I think he will be appointed. Yuri Shevchuk – will leave for another position. National team coaches, refereeing commission and various committees are also agreed, but all decisions will be made by the Conference by voting.
As for boxing at the 2024 Olympics, in my opinion, if the Kremlin remains at the helm of the IBA, it will be hard for this sport to remain in the Olympic family.
— On February 22, the Conference was attended by delegates from 17 regional federations. There will be more on August 9?
– I think a few will join for sure. I can’t call them traitors. As far as I know, they simply abstained, because Prodivus “pressed them on decency”, they say, you voted for me, and now you will be for Shevchenko. They acted like men. But now everyone saw who Prodivus really was. I used to be friends with him too. But after what he started to do a long time ago, he was the first to start fighting him.
Secondly, it is already difficult not to recognize our organization: it has been registered in all instances. Thirdly, this is not some kind of commercial private enterprise, but a public Ukrainian sports organization, which is called upon and will develop boxing. I do not hide, some areas do not support us, but they are still in our team: whether they like it or not, they will have to act within the Charter and the right field of the Boxing Federation of Ukraine and obey the majority opinion.
– Have you already thought about what internal tournaments will remain, whether there will be new ones or some, given the war, will have to be abandoned?
– Discussed it. In Western Ukraine, thank God, everything is more or less safe, and we plan to hold tournaments and training camps there. We will keep the main tournaments and we will find money for them. This also applies to training camps and trips of national teams to international competitions.
It is clear that it will not happen in the near future, given the war. But when we win, and I believe that this will happen soon, everything will return to the previous level. Yes, there are tournaments that, in my opinion, are not really needed, but a boxer should go through 3-4 tournaments of a serious level a year. We will announce the preliminary calendar of competitions after the Conference.
– Amateur boxing – constant criticism of refereeing. Ukrainian amateur boxing – judicial scandals are a way of life. How do you plan to change the system and attitudes towards judges?
– We will choose a new person, give him a period of three months to correct everything that is happening with refereeing. As well as the authority to build a new system. And we will also find money so that the salary of the arbitrators is at the appropriate level, so that they do not have temptations. For me, this is a fundamental question. In Kyiv, thanks to the competent people who took up the solution of this issue, there are practically no complaints about arbitration.
– Will the promises to boxers and coaches from the previous leadership of the Federation be fulfilled? They did not help Zakhareev at all ..
“I don’t want to answer for the promises made by Prodivus. Much has been said there, but the person has not yet paid for the Ukrainian Atamanov, and there the amount is very serious – more than 650 thousand dollars. Zakhareev is his last promise, which he did not fulfill. Thanks to the people who have been helping boxing all their lives, who have closed these questions – about the apartment, cars.
In fact, the budget of Ukrainian boxing is considerable – about a million dollars a year, which is about 80 thousand dollars a month. Do you understand what this money can do for Ukrainian boxing?
I will just give an example of a serious foreign tournament. Usually, whoever conducts it pays for everything. All you need is to buy tickets. Team delegation – 30 people. Expenses – 30 euros per day per person. We take tickets – 300 euros per person. In total, according to rough estimates: the departure of the national team for a week-long tournament is about 15 thousand euros. And so, if 40-50 thousand dollars disappear every month, then, in principle, you can live. Plus various receipts, and the expenses were borne by the vice presidents. Plus, fame and opportunity, ambition and ego. Prodivus decided that he was the eternal president, but in addition, he lost interest in boxing and did not fulfill his promises. This is the reason.
Source: Sportarena
I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.
