MC Mary Kom receives the first ever AIBA Legends award

INDIAN BOXERS shone bright at the 70th anniversary of International Boxing Federation (AIBA) hosted in the Swiss city of Montreux. Five time world champion MC Mary Kom and former Asian games gold medalist Vikas Krishnan were honoured with awards. 

This year saw the launch of the AIBA Legends programme, honouring the personalities and talents that have blessed the sport over AIBA’s seven decades as world boxing’s governing body. 

While Olympic bronze medalist Mary Kom was honoured with the first ever AIBA Legends award for her promising boxing career, Vikas took home the AIBA Pro Boxing Best Boxer trophy.

Both boxers were present at the ceremony along with BFI president Ajay Singh and thanked AIBA for recognising their contribution to the sport. 

Commenting on this recognition received by Indian boxers, BFI President, Ajay Singh said,

"Its an honour for the whole country that our boxers Mary Kom and Vikas Krishnan have been awarded at this global stage of AIBA. BFI congratulates AIBA on their 70th anniversary and look forward to hosting the AIBA family in February 2017 in India for the 71st AIBA commissions meeting."

Besides, the best performances and events of 2016 were recognised, with Uzbekistan’s Light Flyweight Champion Hasanboy Dusmatov and the British Women’s Light Flyweight Olympic Champion Nicola Adams both winning Boxer of the Year. The Best Coach award went to Billy Walsh following a highly successful first full year in charge of the US team, Cuba Domadores were crowned Best WSB Team.

Cuba’s David Morrell’s starring role at the 2016 Youth World Championships, where he won Light Heavyweight gold, earned him the Best Youth Boxer award and hosts Saint Petersburg won Best Youth Event, with Astana winning Best Elite Event for their superb hosting of the Women’s World Championships in May. Helmut Ranze won Best Supervisor for his role at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.