Boxing Expected To Remain In The Olympics
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has recommended that boxing should be included in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
The IOC’s move comes after they initially gave recognition to World Boxing. The IOC did not include boxing in the 2028 Olympics, as they wanted a new global body. World Boxing was then started in 2023. This latest recommendation will now go to a vote this week at an IOC session in Greece. There is an expectation that the proposal will pass and return to how things ran at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The IOC ran boxing at those Olympics after it removed the International Boxing Association’s recognition in 2023 over governance and ethical issues.
Reaction
“This is a very significant and important decision for Olympic boxing and takes the sport one step closer to being restored to the Olympic programme. I have no doubt it will be very positively received by everyone connected with boxing, at every level throughout the world, who understands the critical importance to the future of the sport of boxing continuing to remain a part of the Olympic movement. On behalf of everyone at World Boxing I would like to thank the Executive Board of the IOC for the trust they have placed in our organisation and we hope for a positive outcome when the IOC Session meets this week.
“World Boxing understands that being part of the Olympic Games is a privilege and not a right and I assure the IOC that if boxing is restored to the programme for LA28, that World Boxing is completely committed to being a trustworthy and reliable partner that will adhere to and uphold the values of the Olympic Charter,” Boris van der Vorst (President of World Boxing)
“After the provisional recognition of World Boxing in February we were in the position to take this decision so that this recommendation has to go to the session. I am very confident that the session will approve it so that all the boxers of the world then have certainty that they can participate in the Olympic Games LA 2028 if their national federation is recognised by World Boxing,” Thomas Bach (IOC President)
Implications
The news will be welcomed by boxing fans across the globe. Olympic boxing is vital to building up a grassroots movement. The Olympics has resulted in many future world champions. Some Olympic medalists include Anthony Joshua, who later became the Unified Heavyweight Champion. Oleksandr Usyk is also a medalist, as he became a two-weight undisputed champion at cruiserweight and then heavyweight.
The Olympics has shown a clear pathway for boxers to perform well before joining the pro ranks. It also allows boxers to hone their skills against a variety of styles before seamlessly switching to the pro ranks. Given the vast amount of money entering professional boxing, it is vital that the sport has a clear pathway from the amateurs to the pro ranks. Having boxing in the Olympics will only reinforce that.
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