The International Olympic Committee Recognizes World Boxing as Provisional Governing Body

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has taken a significant step towards securing the inclusion of boxing in the program for the Los Angeles Games in 2028 by granting provisional recognition to World Boxing, a newly established governing body for the sport. World Boxing was founded in 2023 as a breakaway from the troubled International Boxing Association (IBA), and has attracted numerous former IBA members.

According to the IOC, World Boxing has demonstrated that 62% of boxers from the Paris Olympics in the previous year were affiliated with its members. The IOC also noted that World Boxing has shown a strong commitment to enhancing governance and implementing measures to comply with the necessary standards.

Gennady Golovkin, a former boxing champion who leads the commission responsible for establishing World Boxing as a reputable organization to oversee Olympic boxing matches, emphasized the importance of the IOC’s provisional recognition. Golovkin stated, “Receiving provisional Olympic recognition from the IOC is a significant achievement and indicates that our sport is moving in the right direction. This decision brings us closer to our ultimate goal of ensuring boxing’s presence at the Olympic Games.”

The IOC had suspended the IBA in 2019 due to ongoing disputes related to governance, financial issues, and concerns about the integrity of matches and judging. In 2023, following the emergence of World Boxing, the IOC permanently expelled the IBA from the Olympic movement. The IOC took charge of organizing the boxing competitions at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and the Paris Games in the subsequent year but expressed the need for a new partner for the 2028 Games.

Despite its suspension, the IBA and its president Umar Kremlev have continued to clash with the IOC, particularly regarding the eligibility rules for women’s boxing at the Paris Olympics. The focus has been on gold medalists Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting. The IBA recently announced its intention to file criminal complaints against the IOC in the United States, France, and Switzerland.

Overall, the recognition of World Boxing by the IOC signifies a positive step towards ensuring the continued presence of boxing at the Olympic Games. With a renewed focus on good governance and compliance with international standards, World Boxing aims to uphold the integrity and spirit of Olympic boxing for future generations of athletes and fans.