However, its constitution states that in the event of such a resignation, the position will remain vacant until new elections are held, as the IBA constitution takes precedence over the ASBC constitution.

This Saturday, following the ASBC Congress in the United Arab Emirates, where Asian boxing decided to remain within the IBA structure, the President of the continental body, Pichai Chunhavajira, issued a letter announcing his resignation from the IBA Board. He also expressed his desire to continue to lead the ASBC.

Chunhavajira explained his decision as follows: "In light of the decisions made today (Saturday 31 August), I have decided to resign from my position on the IBA Board of Directors. This was not an easy decision, but it is necessary. I will now be devoting my full attention and energy to one goal: to secure the future of boxing in the Olympic Games and to ensure that the ASBC continues to play the vital role it has long played in the sport."

However, Article 5 of the ASBC Constitution states that the IBA's constitution shall always prevail over those of any other body, including the ASBC. In addition, the IBA Constitution, Article 34.3, states that if a member of the Board of Directors who is also a continental president resigns, his or her position on the IBA Board of Directors shall be considered vacant and shall remain so until the respective confederation elects a new continental president.

Under the current rules, the Continental President shall be a member of the IBA Board, and Chunhavajira violates these rules by means of his resignation. Following his resignation ASBC representation at IBA became less significant.

In the letter made public on Saturday, Chunhavajira outlined his motives for taking this stance. At the heart of his reasoning was the current uncertainty over the inclusion of boxing in the Olympic programme. Chunhavajira said: "I want to make it absolutely clear that our commitment to the Olympic Charter remains unwavering. We will fight tooth and nail to ensure that boxing retains its rightful place in the LA2028 Games. The Olympic spirit is deeply intertwined with the essence of our sport and we will not allow it to be compromised.

His statement went on to express his hopes and aspirations for the short and medium term future: He said: "We are at a crossroads, but I am confident that there are many paths open to us. Together, we will explore every option, overcome every obstacle and do whatever it takes to save not only Asian boxing, but the entire global boxing community. This is a fight we cannot afford to lose and I am fully committed to seeing it through".