The IABA says that hard-hitting comments by Minister of State for Sport Jack Chambers today will "focus minds" on the decisions faced by Irish boxing in the association's EGM next month.
However boxing chiefs predict stiff opposition to the changes demanded by Chambers despite the threat of a withdrawal of funding for the sport.
Driven by divisions, the association recently lost Bernard Dunne as the high performance unit's director due to his disillusionment over how criticism of his work had been handled prior to the Tokyo Olympics.
Ireland came home with two medals in the ring, including gold for Kellie Harrington, and Dunne's decision to step down after an extended period on leave added to the pressure on the IABA to deal with deep internal strife.
An independent governance report makes over 60 recommendations for change with the association and was circulated to all clubs, county boards and provincial units last week.
Speaking on RTE Radio earlier today, Minster Chambers described the treatment of Dunne as "a disgrace", adding that those involved in circulating an "anonymous and malicious" document about Dunne to the IABA board over a year ago must be removed from positions of influence in the sport.
And he stated that the changes recommended must be implemented or Irish boxing would have its funding withdrawn as "immediate and severe financial sanctions" would come into play.
The report recommends the formation of a new 12-strong ruling body with a number of independent members.
Chambers said the current "dysfunction" at board level would not be tolerated and that the IABA had maximum of three months to put together an implementation plan.
"The IABA is acutely aware of the need for reform in the volunteer structures of the association," started the body's response this evening.
The Minister’s comments today will serve to focus minds on the gravity of the choice facing Irish boxing.
"The scale of reform recommended in the report is profound and impacts virtually all areas of operation of the volunteer structures of the association."
IABA chiefs say they back Chambers' call for the board changes to be part of the widescale reform called for.
If the recommendations are adopted by the at the members at the EGM, the IABA will be engage, fully, with all monitoring and change management structures applied by Sport Ireland," a statement added.
"IABA also commits to publishing an implementation plan within the timescale outlined by the Minister today."
However the body predicts opposition to change in what will be a democratic ballot of boxing clubs and their members.
The statement added: "IABA is already aware of staunch opposition among some long-standing volunteer members to the primary recommendations proposed in the review.
"The IABA hopes that the Minister’s comments today on the immediacy and severity of financial sanctions will give those members pause and motivate them to think on what is in the best interests of the sport they love."
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