The International Olympic Committee on Wednesday said it needs to find a suitable new international boxing body by early next year or else risk boxing dropping out of the Olympics for the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
The IOC stripped the International Boxing Association of the right to run the Olympic boxing tournaments in Tokyo in 2021 and Paris this year. On Tuesday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld the IOC’s decision to formally de-recognize the IBA, in effect cutting it out of the Olympic movement altogether. The IOC cited concerns about the IBA’s governance and the integrity of how boxing matches are refereed and judged.
To keep boxing in the Olympics for Los Angeles, the IOC emphasized the need to have a new recognized and reliable International Federation as a partner. The IOC called on national boxing bodies and Olympic committees to assist in setting up this new governing body for boxing.
While the IOC did not name specific candidates, there is speculation that World Boxing, a breakaway body supported by officials from the United States and Britain, may be a potential partner. World Boxing has already started hosting its own tournaments and has gained members from various nations and territories.
In response to the CAS ruling, the IBA is contemplating whether to file an appeal to the Swiss supreme court. The IBA claimed that its reforms were not properly acknowledged in the decision, suggesting a biased view had been taken.
The IOC’s deadline of ‘early 2025’ to secure a new international boxing body reflects the urgent need to ensure the sport remains a part of the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028. The future of boxing in the Olympics hinges on the establishment of a suitable governing body that can meet the IOC’s standards and restore the integrity of the sport on the global stage.
