‘We’re one step closer to preserving boxing at the Olympics’

Boxing took a significant step towards being included in the program for the 2028 Olympics after World Boxing was granted provisional recognition as the international federation overseeing amateur boxing internationally.

The decision was reached during a remote meeting on Wednesday, with the International Olympic Committee noting that World Boxing had already gained 78 national federations since being founded in April of 2023, with 62 per cent of the boxers and 58 per cent of 2024 Olympic medalists being affiliated with national federations that are members of World Boxing.

The IOC adds that World Boxing “has demonstrated strong willingness and effort in enhancing good governance and implementation, to be compliant with the appropriate standards.”

World Boxing was formed in the wake of the scandal-riddled International Boxing Association (formerly AIBA) being suspended by the IOC in 2019 due to concerns over governance, its financial viability and the integrity of its judging. The IBA was permanently removed from Olympic recognition in 2023 after World Boxing was formed.

Boxing was overseen by the IOC in 2021 and 2024, though the IOC stated last April that it needed a “reliable International Federation as a partner” to keep boxing as part of the Olympics.

Boris van der Vorst, President of World Boxing, welcomed the news. 

“This is a very significant day for everyone connected with the sport of boxing in the Olympic Movement. Keeping its place at the Olympic Games is absolutely critical to the future of our sport at every level, from the grassroots to the highest echelons of professional boxing, and this decision by the IOC takes us one step closer to our objective of seeing boxing restored to the Olympic program,” said van der Vorst in a press release.

Gennady Golovkin, the former unified middleweight champion who is the Chair for World Boxing’s Olympic Commission, said the IOC’s decision “brings us one step closer to our main goal – preserving boxing at the Olympic Games.”