Joining the World Boxing Federation is the only measure that national boxing federations can take to ensure that the sport is included in the program of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
This was stated by the president of the body, Boris van der Vorst, on Saturday in Paris.
The boxing competition at the Paris Olympic Games, which ended on Saturday, was managed by the International Olympic Committee.
The IOC withdrew recognition from the International Boxing Federation last year because it had failed to implement reforms in the areas of governance and finance.
The sport has not yet been included in the program of the 2028 Olympic Games and national boxing associations have been called upon to form a new global boxing association.
If this does not succeed, there is a risk that the sport will not participate in the Olympic Games in four years.
The international federations are responsible for organizing world championships in their sports as well as Olympic tournaments.
IOC President Thomas Bach said on Friday that a decision must be made on whether to include boxing in the Los Angeles Games in 2025.
“The IOC has made it abundantly clear that boxing can only be reinstated in the Los Angeles 2028 program if it can work with a trusted and reliable International Federation (IF) that enjoys the support of National Federations (NFs),” Van der Vorst said in a statement.
He said: “We are committed to creating a sustainable and inclusive sporting structure – underpinned by strong leadership and transparent financial management – in which all boxers can compete and excel, knowing that the integrity of the sport is assured and the competition is fair.”
World Boxing, launched in 2023, has 37 members, fewer than the IBA, and is not recognized by the IOC.
Van der Vorst expressed confidence that World Boxing would soon have up to 50 members.
“We cannot allow boxing to leave the Olympic stage and I urge all national teams who care about their boxers and the future of the sport to take immediate steps to join World Boxing now and work with us to ensure a better future for the sport.”
(Reuters/NASDAQ: …)
