HC Deb 16 July 1987 vol 119 cc573-4W
Mr. Hayward

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has made to the British Boxing Board of Control regarding the board's powers over professional boxers licensed by the board.

Mr. Moynihan

I have drawn to the British Boxing Board of Control's attention my concern over apparent mismatches in bouts involving British boxers. The board shares my concern. All boxers licensed in Britain have to reach very high standards of all round fitness and their licences are subject to annual re-examination. Every effort is made by the board to ensure that opponents are fairly matched. This is a matter for constant review by the board, which is now conducting a survey of the standard of foreign boxers being allowed to compete in Britain.

British boxers must seek written permission from the board before taking part in a contest overseas. The record of the intended opponent is checked before permission is granted and a number of requests by British boxers to compete abroad have been turned down in recent months. In addition, the board has decided that if in the future it is concerned that an intended opponent for a British boxer is not of a sufficiently high standard it will convey that concern to the commission under whose jurisdiction the contest is taking place.

Every British boxer travelling abroad must have the international licence which has been developed by the World Boxing Council, largely at the instigation of the British board. I share the board's hope that this licence will become accepted worldwide and that all countries will adopt safety standards in line with those applied in Britain.

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