(NOV 18)  The International Boxing Association (AIBA) has already lost several of its key women boxers in recent weeks including but not restricted to Claressa Shields, Katie Taylor, Victoria Torres, Tiara Brown and Franchon Crews which leaves the ‘amateur’ sport in its weakest state for many years and inevitably there has been speculation that others may soon follow suit.

One key capture would be GB’s Nicola Adams (likely to join Matchroom Boxing) as we said here earlier this week but it now seems ‘almost certain’ that there will be other ‘defections’ notably the current World and Olympic Lightweight (60kg) champion Estelle Mossely from France. Whilst such an announcement may not be made ‘immediately’ it is expected to be confirmed by early 2017 at very latest.

WBAN sources in the French capital doubt that she will take part in this month’s Women’s Europeans in Sofia as should she lose in Bulgaria it could reduce her value to sponsors and promoters when she makes a formal announcement.

It also allows the AIBA a little time to try and persuade her to remain in their ranks but seeing they did not make much, if any, effort to retain the services of the others, it seems unlikely that they’d offer her the type of money that the Pro sport can now hopefully offer future women pros.

As a World & Olympic champion, the Frenchwoman would be eagerly sought after by major promoters in many countries including United States and Great Britain as well as in her native France. She has this week been sharing her thoughts for the future with prestigious French media outlet RMC Sport.

Her partner Tony Yoka is of course also a Gold Medallist from Tokyo and having them both as Pros would also be an attractive proposition to future suitors.

“I have been asking a lot of questions since my Olympic title," she told RMC Sport.

"I am a World champion and an Olympic champion so I do not think I can hope for better”. She stressed however that she is ‘eager to defend her title’ in Tokyo in 2020. Remember too that her home city, Paris, is one of those hoping to be awarded the 2024 Olympic Games. She is already an ‘ambassador’ for Paris 2024

"It would be possible for me to go Pro and still be able to make the Olympic Games, which is the big event for a sportsman," she said. "It would allow me to fight again, but in a different style, with a different training regime and would be a different experience.

"I think that by January I will have decided what I will do," said Mossely. I'll leave it until the end of the year to take everything into account, study each proposal. Also more details about what is going to be the future of women's boxing. We have seen a lot of changes in men's boxing. This is going to be the case with women too.

There will of course still be many excellent ‘amateurs’ in the AIBA ranks but the more of their current champions that turn Pro the greater the short term loss to the AIBA. That’s one important reason why the Lausanne based organisation is now looking to improve the standards in Africa as you will have seen from a recent AIBA Press Release on WBAN.

Among the central points under discussion were the implementation of numerous and regional courses and educational seminars for coaches and officials at all levels, the maximising of, and building on, the current competition schedule, improved communications and the growth of women’s and grassroots boxing.

With African boxing’s grassroots development a key factor towards the greater inclusion of women into boxing, a key target ahead of Tokyo 2020, the growth of Junior and Youth training and competitions on the continent will also be a priority.

“A central part of our duty as boxing’s governing body is to offer our support where it is most needed to ensure that the world’s most talented boxers are able to fulfil their potential. African boxing has a rich history and a bright future, and AIBA will work closely with the AFBC to help empower the continent’s 54 National Federations and provide them with the structure in which to flourish, beginning with the Year in Africa but looking far beyond 2017,” concluded President Dr. Ching-Kuo Wu.

With Shields, Taylor, and soon Adams and Mossely gone who will be the new ‘standard bearers’ for the ‘once’ Amateur sport? Stay in tune with WBAN in the months ahead for all the latest news beginning with November’s European Championships in Sofia where several new champions will be confirmed.