Panama City, March 15, 2025 – The Hotel El Panama hosted the Inaugural Congress of the Pan American Boxing Confederation, a historic event that brought together members of the 18 national federations across the continent that form this new organization. During the congress, Elise Seignolle (USA) was elected as President of the Confederation, marking the beginning of a new era for Pan American boxing with the goal of strengthening and promoting the sport in the region.

The opening ceremony was attended by the Director of the Panamanian Sports Institute (PANDEPORTES), Miguel Ordoñez, who highlighted the importance of this congress for the development of boxing in the Americas. Mike McAtee, spokesperson for the Interim Committee, welcomed the attendees and emphasized the organization’s commitment to transparency, unity, and the growth of the sport.

Agenda and Key Decisions

During the congress, the proposed agenda was unanimously approved, and the Statutes of the Pan American Boxing Confederation were ratified, establishing the legal and operational foundations of the organization.

Mike McAtee presented the World Boxing activities calendar, highlighting the upcoming World Boxing World Cup, to be held in Iguazu, Brazil, from March 31 to April 5. This event will be the first to take place on the continent under the new confederation structure.

Executive Committee Elections

One of the most important moments of the congress was the election of the Executive Committee of the Pan American Boxing Confederation. The positions of President and Audit and Finance Committee Chair were elected by acclamation, resulting in the following appointments:

• President:
  • Elise Seignolle (USA)
• Vice Presidents:
  • Ryan O’Shea (Canada) as 1st Vice President
  • Tomás Cianca (Panama) as 2nd Vice President
• Executive Board Members:
  • Marcos Candido Britos (Brazil)
  • Kathy Harper (Barbados)
  • Stephen Jones (Jamaica)
  • Dhany Reyes (Honduras)
• Audit and Finance Committee:
  • Amabelis Camaño (Panama) as Chair and Treasurer of the Board
• Medical and Anti-Doping Committee:
  • Dr. Bernardino Santi (Brazil) as Chair
• Sport and Competition Committee:
  • Hernán Salvo (Argentina) as Chair

Speech by the Elected President

Following her election, President Elise Seignolle delivered an emotional speech, emphasizing the importance of unity and collaboration to achieve recognition for Pan American boxing on the global stage.

“Today marks the beginning of a new era for our sport. Together, we will work to ensure that boxing remains a vital part of the Olympic family and to provide more opportunities for our athletes,” she stated.

Seignolle also highlighted the role of the confederation in promoting values such as inclusion, transparency, and respect: “Our diversity is our strength. We are a continent united by a common passion: boxing. And it is through this unity that we will demonstrate to the world that our sport deserves a prominent place on the Olympic stage.”

The newly elected president called for action to address the challenges ahead: “This journey will not be easy, but I am confident that, together, we will overcome any obstacle. Our mission is clear: to guide and inspire the next generation of champions, ensuring their dreams come true on the world’s biggest stage.”

Additionally, Seignolle stressed the importance of strengthening relationships with key organizations in the region: “We are committed to working hand in hand with organizations such as Panam Sports, Centro Caribe Sports, ODESUR, ODEBO, CANOC, and ORDECA. We want boxing to be in the hearts and minds of everyone, and together, we will ensure our sport continues to shine brightly on the global stage.”

Finally, Seignolle thanked the attendees for their trust and commitment: “Thank you for believing in this project and for trusting me to lead it. This is just the beginning of a journey that will transform the future of boxing in the Americas.”

The congress concluded with a call to action to strengthen boxing in the Americas, promoting inclusion, transparency, and the development of athletes.

The Pan American Boxing Confederation is committed to working closely with national federations, Olympic committees, and continental sports organizations to achieve these goals.