Super-heavyweight category abandoned

Question. What do George Foreman, Lennox Lewis, Vladimir Klitschko and Audley Harrison have in common? Answer. They are all Olympic boxing champions who would now be considered too big to be allowed to step into a boxing ring, according to controversial new regulations announced by the Amateur International Boxing Association.

In a decision which has triggered furious protests from boxing associations across the world, the AIBA has abandoned the super-heavyweight category at which Harrison won Britain's first boxing gold medal for 32 years in the Sydney Olympic Games, and has said the maximum permissible weight will now be fixed at 95 kilograms (roughly 15 stone).

Previously the heavyweight division was fixed at 91kg for amateurs, with the super-heavyweights being open to men of any size. But the new rule, which the AIBA secretary-general Loring K Baker says must be obeyed from the turn of the year, means any fighter unable to slim down to 15st will be excluded from international competition.

Britain has joined the United States, Canada and others in registering a formal complaint against the rule changes. Jim Smart, chairman of the British Amateur Boxing Association, said the amended weight categories could have a "disastrous" effect on the sport.

"We are taking legal advice," he said. "We suspect that a simple committee of AIBA vice-presidents do not have the power to do what they have done. It is possible we could simply refuse to accept the new rules. They have serious repercussions for the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in terms ofreduced entries. We have a number of good British boxers, like Joe Young from Repton and the Scotsman Ian Millarvie, who have no chance of making 95kg.

"Unfortunately, it seems to be a politically motivated decision and the Asian countries who have no heavyweights want to keep all the smaller weight classifications. But what they are trying to force through is simply unbelievable." Although the AIBA will not give official confirmation, it is known to have come under pressure from the International Olympic Committee to reduce the number of competitors in the games.

One AIBA insider said: "The IOC made it very clear that the standard was not of the best in the super-heavyweight division in Sydney [where only 16 took part]." And, with judging scandals and accusations of corruption having threatened boxing's existence as an Olympic sport in recent years, it is easy to see why the international governing body apparently bowed to the pressure.

Harrison slammed the decision. "I have boxed my whole career above 95kg along with Lennox Lewis, Riddick Bowe and many other outstanding super-heavyweights. To remove this division, which historically has produced more press coverage, more public adulation and worldwide recognition for Olympic-style boxing, would be a travesty and a nail in the coffin to the long-term future of the sport." England's top amateur coach, the performance director Ian Irwin who runs the national team, described the ruling as "crazy" and added: "The big money has always been in the heavyweights and boxers are getting bigger."