Burke’s Blog: Shabazz update
Burke’s Blog by Louie Burke
Congratulations to Siju Shabazz! Siju has signed a pre-employment agreement with the World Series of Boxing (WSB). The WSB is a new and interesting concept which could breath fresh air into the sport of amateur and pro boxing. It’s pro boxing, but the participants would still be eligible to participate in the Olympics. The bouts are scheduled to be five rounds at three minutes piece, no head gear and pro style scoring. The Continents of North America, Asia and Europe will have franchises that participate against each other in a series of bouts.
AIBA, the international governing body of amateur boxing and IMG, the biggest sports marketing company, have partnered up to create this series. The boxers get a signing fee, a yearly salary of $40,000 plus incentive bonuses and insurances. They will travel extensively to participate in the locations designated. This sounds like a great opportunity and adventure for Siju. The concept, will hopefully bring back a middle class into boxing, where in the past you could make a living in boxing even though you weren’t a world champ or top five contender – not saying these participants aren’t good enough to be world ranked or future champs, it simply gives them an opportunity to get there feet wet in the pro game, maintain their amateur status for Olympic competition and still make an independent living.
In time many of the boxer involved will be world champions since AIBA has access to the worlds top athletes, skimming the cream off the top. I really don’t know a lot about the WSB, but I hope that it’s successful in its objectives, for Siju’s sake and the sake of boxing. Amateur and professional boxing desperately need a shot of hope and newness to bring back the sport to what it used to be. I don’t know if the WSB is the answer, but unless someone clones ten Manny Pacquiaos, it’s still more than anyone else has laid out on the table. For more info, get on worldseriesboxing.com.
The Las Cruces PAL, Omega Boxing and other parties that have been affiliated with Siju are proud and happy that he’s found something that could be tailor made for what he’s been looking for the last couple of years. If all pans out, Siju should be drafted sometime early next year, then start his training with the team that selected him in August in preparation for the start of the series in September. It’s neat to know that one of our own will be on the ground floor of this new concept of league boxing and be a participant in attempt to rejuvenate boxing.
It’s a risk, but so is walking across the street.
Good luck, Juice and don’t forget my souvenirs!
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