Pic: AIBA President Dr. Ching-Kuo Wu (centre) with the two technical delegates for the AIBA World Boxing Championships Chicago 2007 Mr. Kishen Narsi (left) and Mr. Franco Falcinelli

AIBA President Dr. Ching-Kuo Wu told a press conference on Thursday that the AIBA World Boxing Championships Chicago 2007 are the "best ever so far".

Asked how the AIBA World Boxing Championships Chicago 2007 compare to previous editions, the AIBA President took into consideration that three competition days still remain before answering; "The organisation has been incredible. Everything from accommodation to transport to the general organisation has been excellent. The Local Organising Committee has prepared everything in five months what usually takes two years. I hope at the end of the championships I will be able to openly declare these the best championships ever."

Speaking to the media in Chicago just ahead of the quarterfinals, Dr. Wu also heaped praise on the open and transparent officiating during the tournament with 72 boxers having qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing from 36 countries.

"This is a concrete sign of the new AIBA, an open and fair judging system which gives all the boxers an equal opportunity to obtain their goals," he said.

Prior to the quarterfinals, Russia was the leading qualifier with seven athletes while Europe, with 34, and Asia, 22, were the strongest continents. The four Olympic qualifiers in each of the 91kg and 91+kg divisions will be determined once the semifinalists are found on Thursday.

The semifinals of the AIBA World Boxing Championships Chicago 2007 will be held on Friday, followed by the finals on Saturday. Two women's exhibition matches will take place prior to the start of the finals at 1.30pm.