World Boxing aims for IOC recognition at 2028 Olympics, replacing Russian-led IBA

World Boxing is aiming to gain recognition from Olympic officials as a replacement for the International Boxing Association (IBA), which is Russian-led, in an effort to ensure boxing remains part of the Olympic lineup for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. This announcement came on Wednesday from the newly established organization.

The IBA was officially derecognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in June of the previous year due to its failure to implement necessary reforms concerning governance, finances, and ethics. As a result, the IOC itself is managing the boxing events for the upcoming Paris Olympics. Kit McConnell, the IOC’s sports director, mentioned earlier this week that the IOC Executive Board has declared this situation cannot persist, stating, “This must be the last time that such a process can be undertaken by the IOC.” Consequently, the future inclusion of boxing in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics is currently uncertain and contingent on the establishment of a new, supportive boxing organization by the national federations, explicitly excluding the IBA from the 2028 Games’ boxing organization.

Established in April of the previous year, World Boxing held its first presidential election in November, with Boris van der Vorst, the former head of the Dutch federation, being elected. World Boxing has issued a statement in response to the IOC’s stance, urging national boxing federations to rally behind a new international federation to secure boxing’s Olympic future. The organization is actively seeking recognition from the IOC and pledges to work closely with national federations and stakeholders to formulate a strategy that ensures boxing’s inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics and beyond.

As of now, 188 boxers from 56 National Olympic Committees have qualified for the Paris Olympics, with an additional 51 quota spots to be determined at the final world qualifying tournament in Bangkok from May 25 to June 2. World Boxing, which currently comprises 27 national federations from across the globe, including the United States, is committed to preserving Olympic-style boxing’s place in future Games.