Boxing Set to Return to Olympics in 2028

After years of disputes over the management of the sport, boxing is poised to make a comeback at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach announced on Monday that the IOC’s executive board has approved the inclusion of boxing in the 2028 program. While the decision still requires final approval from the full IOC session later this week, it is expected to be a mere formality.

Following the breakdown in relations with the International Boxing Association (IBA), the IOC took over the organization of boxing tournaments at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and the Paris Games in 2024. However, the IOC expressed the need for a new partner in time for the 2028 Olympics. Last month, the IOC officially recognized the new governing body, World Boxing, paving the way for the sport’s return to the Olympic stage.

Bach expressed confidence that the IOC session would approve the decision, allowing boxers from around the world to participate in the Olympic Games in Los Angeles if their national federation is recognized by World Boxing. The IBA was suspended by the IOC in 2019 due to ongoing disputes over governance, finances, and the integrity of bouts and judging. In 2023, the IBA was expelled from the Olympic movement entirely, shortly after the establishment of World Boxing as a breakaway entity.

Despite its suspension, the IBA and its president, Umar Kremlev, have continued to clash with the IOC, particularly over the eligibility rules for women’s boxing at the Paris Olympics. The IBA recently announced its intention to file criminal complaints against the IOC in the United States, France, and Switzerland.

With boxing on track to return to the Olympic stage in 2028, the sport’s athletes and fans can look forward to an exciting showcase of talent and competition in Los Angeles.