Associazione Pugilistica Professionistica Europea
Encyclopedia
The Associazione Pugilistica Professionistica Europea evolved from the former International Boxing Union
. With the outbreak of World War I, the IBU had suspended operations, but resumed action on February 5, 1920—this time headquartered in Paris.
On 3 June 1942, FIBA, the world body for amateur boxers, met in Rome. According to the 1940 "Extraordinary Congress," Germany was to have been the host of the 1942 first world championship tournament for amateurs. But the war interfered with that plan. So Italy was appointed the site of the 1943 European championships. (On January 20–25, 1942, Breslau hosted the European Amateur Boxing Championships
that were not generally recognized.)
By early 1942 the IBU was in the hands of the German Nazis and Italian Fascists. On 5 June 1942, the Associazione Pugilistica Professionistica Europea (APPE) was formally established, replacing the IBU. The lira was adopted as the official currency for bout and congress fees. Vittorio Mussolini
, eldest son of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, was declared the APPE's first President. The first official meeting of the APPE's steering committee was held June 7, who recognized the following European champions: Enrico Urbinati (fly), Gino Bondavalli (bantam and feather), Ascenzo Botta (light), vacant - it was announced to Marcel Cerdan
that he had lost his title (welter), Jupp Besselmann (middle), Luigi Musina
(light-heavy), and Max Schmeling
(heavy).
The APPE also changed the division weights, adopting the kilogram, and abolishing the "hated" pounds: 51 kilos (fly), 54 (bantam), 58 (feather), 62 (light), 67 (junior middle—abolishing the term "welter"), 73 (middle), 80 (light-heavy), and 80-plus (heavy). Ultimately, all European bouts held under the APPE's aegis were matched at these weights until December 1944.
It was planned that after the Axis won World War II, the APPE would be transformed into the APPI, with Rome as its seat. But by December 1, 1944, the IBU/APPE was extinct. The British Boxing Board of Control
and the newly-formed French FFB tried to constitute a new European body—the European Boxing Association (EBA)--but other countries protested, because the two veteran countries would have reintroduced the principle that the European Champion would be decided by a bout between British and French champions. Instead, in 1946, from the ashes of the APPE, the European Boxing Union
(EBU) came into being.
International Boxing Union
The International Boxing Union was created June 1911 in Paris, France. It was an attempt to create a unified international governing body for professional boxing...
. With the outbreak of World War I, the IBU had suspended operations, but resumed action on February 5, 1920—this time headquartered in Paris.
On 3 June 1942, FIBA, the world body for amateur boxers, met in Rome. According to the 1940 "Extraordinary Congress," Germany was to have been the host of the 1942 first world championship tournament for amateurs. But the war interfered with that plan. So Italy was appointed the site of the 1943 European championships. (On January 20–25, 1942, Breslau hosted the European Amateur Boxing Championships
1942 European Amateur Boxing Championships
The 1942 European Amateur Boxing Championships were held in Breslau, Germany from 20 to 25 January. There were 97 fighters from 11 countries participating: Germany, Hungary, and Italy , and Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland...
that were not generally recognized.)
By early 1942 the IBU was in the hands of the German Nazis and Italian Fascists. On 5 June 1942, the Associazione Pugilistica Professionistica Europea (APPE) was formally established, replacing the IBU. The lira was adopted as the official currency for bout and congress fees. Vittorio Mussolini
Vittorio Mussolini
Vittorio Mussolini was an Italian film critic and producer. He was also the second son of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. However, he was the first son of Mussolini with his second wife Rachele.-Biography:...
, eldest son of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, was declared the APPE's first President. The first official meeting of the APPE's steering committee was held June 7, who recognized the following European champions: Enrico Urbinati (fly), Gino Bondavalli (bantam and feather), Ascenzo Botta (light), vacant - it was announced to Marcel Cerdan
Marcel Cerdan
Marcellin "Marcel" Cerdan was a French pied noir world boxing champion who was considered by many boxing experts and fans to be France's greatest boxer, and beyond to be one of the best to have learned his craft in Africa...
that he had lost his title (welter), Jupp Besselmann (middle), Luigi Musina
Luigi Musina
Luigi Musina was an Italian boxer.He won twice the gold medal in the 1937 European Amateur Boxing Championships in Milan and the 1939 European Amateur Boxing Championships in Dublin, winning twice his final fights against Franciszek Szymura. Musina played in several duals: ITA vs. HUN , Europe vs...
(light-heavy), and Max Schmeling
Max Schmeling
Maximillian Adolph Otto Siegfried Schmeling was a German boxer who was heavyweight champion of the world between 1930 and 1932. His two fights with Joe Louis in the late 1930s transcended boxing, and became worldwide social events because of their national associations...
(heavy).
The APPE also changed the division weights, adopting the kilogram, and abolishing the "hated" pounds: 51 kilos (fly), 54 (bantam), 58 (feather), 62 (light), 67 (junior middle—abolishing the term "welter"), 73 (middle), 80 (light-heavy), and 80-plus (heavy). Ultimately, all European bouts held under the APPE's aegis were matched at these weights until December 1944.
It was planned that after the Axis won World War II, the APPE would be transformed into the APPI, with Rome as its seat. But by December 1, 1944, the IBU/APPE was extinct. The British Boxing Board of Control
British Boxing Board of Control
The British Boxing Board of Control is the governing body of professional boxing in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1929 from the old National Sporting Club and is headquartered in Cardiff.- Councils :...
and the newly-formed French FFB tried to constitute a new European body—the European Boxing Association (EBA)--but other countries protested, because the two veteran countries would have reintroduced the principle that the European Champion would be decided by a bout between British and French champions. Instead, in 1946, from the ashes of the APPE, the European Boxing Union
European Boxing Union
The European Boxing Union is an organization that oversees competition in that sport over the continent of Europe.-History:The EBU started life as the International Boxing Union in Paris in 1910...
(EBU) came into being.