Boxing’s Olympic future just took a promising turn! The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has granted provisional recognition to World Boxing, a newly established governing body for the sport. This significant move sets the stage for boxing’s potential inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.
In recent years, boxing faced uncertainty within the Olympic movement due to governance and financial issues surrounding the former governing body, the International Boxing Association (IBA). The IBA was suspended by the IOC in 2019 and eventually expelled from the Olympic movement in 2023 after failing to implement necessary reforms.
With the IOC urging national boxing federations to form a new global organization, World Boxing emerged earlier this year. Boasting 78 members across five continents, World Boxing has worked diligently to meet the IOC’s criteria, including establishing robust governance structures, ensuring financial transparency, and committing to anti-doping regulations.
“This is a very significant day for everyone connected with the sport of boxing in the Olympic movement,” said World Boxing President Boris van der Vorst. “Keeping its place at the Olympic Games is absolutely critical to the future of our sport at every level… and this decision by the IOC takes us one step closer to our objective of seeing boxing restored to the Olympic program.”
The IOC’s provisional recognition of World Boxing means the sport is now on a clearer path toward inclusion in the 2028 Games. While boxing is set to be part of the 2024 Paris Olympics under the IOC’s direct oversight, its status for Los Angeles 2028 was previously uncertain.
The IOC acknowledged World Boxing’s progress in key areas such as global representation, integrity processes, and adherence to the World Anti-Doping Code. This recognition allows the sport to “push toward continued Olympic inclusion in 2028,” as stated by the IOC.
The journey isn’t over yet. World Boxing continues to work toward full IOC recognition, ensuring that boxing remains a staple of the Olympic experience for athletes and fans worldwide.
