Olympic Newsdesk -- World Series of Boxing in London; Kim Skips Tournament

AIBA Says London Still on Track for World Series of Boxing

Despite the inability of the British Amateur Boxing Association to come up with funding for a London franchise for the World Series of Boxing, plans are still moving ahead to include London when the WSB holds its first events later this year.

The British association says funding cuts made it impossible for the group to make a $75,000 deposit required last month.

AIBA spokesman Paul O’Neil tells Around the Rings that negotiations are taking place with potential investors for the London franchise.

The World Series of Boxing is meant to give the world’s top amateur boxers the chance to compete in professional-style fights, receiving pay and other benefits such as insurance. The athletes would be able to retain their amateur status.

O’Neil says the BABA “ will be instrumental in providing British boxers for the franchise and they fully support the WSB”.

The WSB is supposed to be contested among a group of 12 cities from the Americas, Europe and Asia. Franchise cities so far include New Delhi, Milan and an un-named German city. Talks for a U.S. city are ongoing says O’Neil.

O’Neil took over this week as the senior communications manager at AIBA headquarters in Lausanne, replacing Adam Szreter, who had held the post for just five months.

Yu Na Kim Resists Presidential Request

Reigning world champion figure skater Yu Na Kim will not compete in the 2010 Four Continents Championships, despite a request from International Skating Union President Ottavio Cinquanta.

Kim ruled out competing at the Four Continents in order to save her best performance for the Vancouver Olympics. Cinquanta wrote a letter to the Korean Skating Union urging Kim to skate in the championships from Jan. 25-31 in Jeonju, Korea.

The Los Angeles Times reported that a KSU official visited with Kim, her mother and her agent in Toronto. The KSU accepted Kim's decision not to compete at the tournament.

Her coach, Brian Orser, told the Times that the Four Continents did not fit into the strategy of peaking for the Olympics.

Korean Wrestling Chief Admits to Paying Olympic Judges

The head of Korean wrestling admitted in his corruption trial Wednesday that he ''gave money to international referees.''

According to a report in The Korea Times, Shin-il Chun, who is chairman of a Korean tour agency, said the payoffs were gifts intended to say “thank you” to the referees and not to influence the outcome of the matches. He reportedly said the donations were given in restrooms to referees from poorer countries.

The Times said Chun “told the court that he didn't think it was serious” to give the money to the officials.

Written by Ed Hula III.