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The State of Maltese Amateur Boxing
The question mark on Maltese amateur boxing has been an unsettling issue for several decades.
Maltese amateur boxing came into existence in the early sixties when Malta affiliated with the AIBA at the Rome conference through the ‘Malta Boxing Association’ in the early seventies a huge row erupted over affiliation rights and recognition with the ‘Malta Boxing Federation’ this local battle was won by the Federation.
From the late seventies to the mid eighties the local amateur federation was under the patronage of the Ministry of Sport, however little progress was registered. In this period Maltese boxer Martin Fenech, participated in the Med Games and a few club exchanges with Ireland.
In the mid nineties the Maltese federation lost its AIBA status for non compliance with the rules of the ‘International Boxing Association’.
Then in 2008 the Federation was revived, this was followed by a short period of success. Within a couple of years there were several participations by Maltese boxers at international club level and participation in the 2009 AIBA – world championships, Maltese boxers attended several international training camps, some of which were held in Malta and results were coming in fast, including a bronze medal by local Zak Farrugia, at an AIBA boxing event in Morocco.
Then in 2011 Malta was once again removed from the AIBA for non compliance to the rules and behavior unbecoming by Maltese officials. Malta was this time humiliated in front of the world’s press as the Maltese official was asked to remove himself from the Kazakhstan conference.
This prompted Malta’s best international Olympic boxers to migrate to England. Most notable of these migrations was Haithem Lamous, who took up residence in England, joined the English ABA and eventually became London champion of his division.
Nowadays Maltese boxing which has a huge local following is mostly composed of semi-pro organizations and a limited number of professional boxers. There are practically no local opportunities for young and budding amateur boxers and it is unfortunate that those young people who love and practice this sport have no choice but to join the - so called - semi pro ranks.