Muscat – The sport of boxing has got a major fillip in Oman with the World Boxing Council (WBC), one of the largest international boxing organisations in the world, announcing its representation in the sultanate.

WBC has extended the invitation of the WBC Amateur representation in Oman to Baqar Haider, coach at Muscat Fight Club. “This was almost four years in the making and is a big step towards having the sport of boxing reaching out to the youth of Oman,” Haider said.

He informed that this will advance boxing in Oman, using WBC as a tool to collaborate with local authorities, neighbouring countries and help develop the sport for the youth, through joint events and promotions.

“The main advantage of this representation is that it allows us to benchmark future events and to follow international best practices when it comes to event management, governance, safety and, most importantly, it gives the Omani youth a trajectory to compete for and win WBC approved belts, while allowing us to get on the international ranking system,” he added.

Though this is at the amateur level, it’s a step in the right direction, Haider noted. “With the number of athletes currently available, along with the number of active clubs teaching boxing, the future of the sport now has a much brighter outlook.”

The representation is in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 to build public and private sector partnerships in promoting the health of the nation and “developing tourism, in our case, through sports”.

WBC amateur bouts are usually 3 x 2 minute rounds, where athletes are scored on a ten-point system, wearing fully protective gear, including head guards and gloves. The number and duration of rounds may increase depending on the experience level of the athletes and if it is a title fight.

Bouts are judged by three independent judges, have an independent referee, and conducted with all the necessary medical support and facilities before, during and after the competition.

Stringent health checks and precautions are taken to maximise the safety and wellbeing of athletes. The sanctioning body and independent commissions ensure complete transparency and fairness, and govern the safety and protocols throughout the event.

Established in 1963, WBC is headquartered in Mexico. It boasts world renowned champions such as Mohammed Ali, Mike Tyson, Prince Naseem Hamed, Floyd Mayweather and the current heavyweight champion Tyson Fury to name a few.