World Boxing Seeks IOC Recognition to Keep Boxing on LA28 Program
[[{“value”:”
World Boxing announced it will seek recognition from the International Olympic Committee in a bid to secure boxing’s spot in the 2028 Olympic Summer Games in Los Angeles.
The fledgling international federation’s statement came one day after the IOC pointedly reminded the boxing world that its spot is not secure going forward in the Games. World Boxing reported 27 member federations at its November 2023 founding Congress.
article_sidebar]“The comments made by the IOC send a clear message to Boxing National Federations that they must join and support a new International Federation immediately if boxing is to remain on the Olympic Program, or the sport will not be part of future editions of the Olympic Games after Paris 2024, which will have devastating consequences for young boxers, at all levels, across the world,” World Boxing said on Wednesday.
World Boxing was established in April 2023 and is seeking to take over the mantle of an IOC-recognized international federation. One of the leaders in the formation of World Boxing is USA Boxing, which ended IBA membership last year and joined World Boxing as one of its inaugural members.
The IOC withdrew the recognition of the IBA in June 2023, ending a years-long dispute. In doing so, the IOC said boxing will keep its spot on the program at the LA28 Games but in the time since it, the IOC put its position on hold because there is no IOC-recognized international federation.
“If there is no boxing body supported and driven by the National Federations, we will not be in a position to include boxing in the (LA28) Olympic program,” IOC Sports Director Kit McConnell said Tuesday. “It’s now up to the National Federations to drive this change and to work to create a body that we can work in partnership with, because we cannot move forward with this current situation.”
The IOC is organizing the qualification process for this summer’s Games in Paris as part of its long-running drama with the International Boxing Association. It said 188 boxers from 56 National Olympic Committees have so far secured places for Paris. The final qualifying tournament will be held in Bangkok from May 25 to June 2 with 51 places available.
“We do need to see progress, not a deadline as such,” McConnell said of a timeline for a LA28 decision on boxing. “Progress from the NF making it very clear that they are supporting the development of a new boxing body that we can work in partnership with … that will not be the IBA.”
“}]] Read More
