Why Suleyman Mikayilov is a Boxer For AIBA?

I am running because never before has AIBA had a boxer for president. As a six-time national champion in the Soviet Union, I know how hard our boxers train every day in the gym. Whether it is Dan Dou or a youngster walking into 5 th Street Gym for the first time, every boxer deserves our full support. Following my competitive career, I became a coach, training hundreds of young boxers in Azerbaijan. In 2001 I became the vice president of the Azerbaijan National Federation and I have continued to serve Azeri boxers ever since, including leading our delegation at four Olympic Games. Then in 2010, I answered the call to work for our beloved federation when I was elected to the AIBA Executive Committee. I have given everything I can to AIBA, to my national federation and to my boxers. I have done this because I owe everything to boxing. Boxing is how I went to university, became a lawyer and started my career in the Azerbaijani government. I am proud of all that boxing has given me and now it is time to give back. My friends if you elect me as the next President of AIBA, I guarantee that our boxers will once again have pride in AIBA. Unfortunately, our sport and our federation have lost sight of why we are here: to support our boxers. They have watched as AIBA was mismanaged and is now kicked out of the Olympics by the IOC. In the first 100 days of my presidency, I will institute reforms for good governance and clear our debts. As AIBA president I will implement new technologies so boxers and boxing fans can trust our competition. I will increase the solidarity of the global boxing family and improve communication so that we can move forward. And most importantly, I will make sure the IOC trusts AIBA and allows us to oversee boxing at the 2024 Olympics. The future of AIBA is at stake. We can not exist if we are out of the Olympics. I am the only candidate who has realistic and achievable goals to protect AIBA and I hope to have your vote on December 12.

How we will solve AIBA’s financial crisis

The National Federations and members realise the next President carries a huge and difficult burden, to stabilize the finances of AIBA. Over several years, we have been apportioning blame about previous problems, but never tried to find practical ways to solve this issue. Now there is no time to waste and here are three steps to clearing AIBA’s financial crisis. I will clear AIBA’s current debts within 100 days. I will set up a new marketing programme – through the United Boxing Alliance in Switzerland that will establish stable and sustainable long-term revenue. I will ensure strict guidelines for the management of finances, with independent supervision and transparency. This will be a central part of the integrity and governance overhaul I will implement.

Why Suleyman is a trustworthy person?

The next AIBA President should be someone who the boxing family can lean on. The President should be there to assist and support the hopes and dreams of all. The President is not there to be a dictator and to use his or her position to satisfy their own personal interests. I have over 25 years of experience working for the government in various positions. I will dedicate everything I have to the future of AIBA.

How to grant the highest standards of Good Governance?

AIBA needs to restructure its governance system and devise a simple, responsive and democratic operation. We will reduce the number of new board members and eliminate the redundant layers of bureaucracy we can implement our objectives. We must have better communication with our members. Our governance depends on having capable leaders. We will adopt a vetting and nomination process to appoint commission members and elect future board members. I will dramatically improve governance at AIBA, and I have already begun this process by inviting external independent expertise to study our governance.

Onboarding Independent experts for deep and sustainable reforms

After the election, an aggressive and fully-fledged reform process must be implemented. Without doing so, we cannot be trusted by the IOC. It’s one of the key reasons why I have joined together with Global Sports Investigation (GSI) for my campaign - to help advise me on integrity, good governance and ethics. They will be able to advise and offer their expertise in this area which will have a beneficial impact for all of boxing.

Win back the trust of the IOC

AIBA must regain the trust of the IOC to once again be responsible for boxing at the Olympic Games. I have participated in many Olympic Games as the Head of Azerbaijan’s National Boxing Team. Competing in the Olympic Games and winning medals represents the hopes and dreams of all boxers. I will not stand by and watch AIBA be removed from the Olympics. It will not be easy to resolve the problems between AIBA and the IOC, and they will not be convinced accept our reforms unless we prove our ambition to implement serious and deep changes for the good of our sport and its boxers. I have read the final IOC Inquiry Committee Report more than 10 times to understand where the roots of our problems come from and to help me understand how to address them.

On being the Right Unity candidate

AIBA remains divided and there is still too much disunity and in-fighting. This makes addressing the issues of finance, poor staffing, a lack of good governance and ethics even harder. All these problems can be solved once we are a united organisation. I am appealing to our National Federations and the world boxing family to come together now.

More on financing: The United Boxing Alliance

The current situation at AIBA has resulted in the organisation’s current image and reputation reaching an all-time low and any marketing deal is virtually impossible. We lost our credibility with potential sponsors and financial partners. But this is a new entity, the United Boxing Alliance (UBA), it can offer us a positive future for change. UBA was established by people who want to save our sport and AIBA. These people will donate funds to support all the future activities of AIBA and support national federations. No single person and no amount of doubtful money can clear AIBA’s debts and secure the millions of Swiss Francs needed to run AIBA