World Boxing

World Boxing

Abbreviation	WB
Formation	13 April 2023; 20 months ago (2023-04-13)
Founded at	Renens, Lausanne, Switzerland
Type	Boxing federation
Headquarters	Chemin du Levant 6, Renens, 1020, Switzerland
Region served	Worldwide
Membership	60 national federations
President	Boris van der Vorst
Vice-President(s)	Ryan O’Shea Matt Holt Dinah Glykidis
Website	worldboxing.org

World Boxing is an international sports organization regulating amateur boxing. It was formed in response to the breakdown in relations between the International Olympic Committee and the Russian-led International Boxing Association over governance and integrity problems in the latter.^[1]

World Boxing is campaigning to keep boxing as an Olympic sport after the 2024 Summer Olympics, when the IOC's qualification arrangements expired.^[2] They claim they are the only international boxing federation that can keep boxing in the Summer Olympics.^[3]

History

Common Cause Alliance

The International Boxing Association (IBA) had been suspended by the IOC in 2019 due to issues surrounding its governance and finances. Further scrutiny emerged under the presidency of Umar Kremlev—which began in 2020—including allegations of increased Russian influence (including close ties to president Vladimir Putin, a sponsorship agreement with state-owned oil company Gazprom, and having moved some of its operations to Russia), and concerns over governance, finances, and the integrity of officiating.^{[4][5][6][7][8]}

Amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, 18 boxing national federations formed a consortium known as the "Common Cause Alliance" (CCA), which called for greater transparency on its finances (including the aforementioned Gazprom agreement), determine the detrimental effects of the invasion on the IBA, and for it to take stronger action against the Russian Boxing Federation. The CCA also pledged support for boxing to continue being a Summer Olympic sport.^[9][10][11]

During the IBA Congress in May 2022, one day before a presidential vote, five candidates connected to the CCA were deemed ineligible by IBA's Interim Nomination Unit, accusing them of engaging in prohibited "collaborations" and campaigning outside of the designated period. One of the candidates—Dutch official Boris van der Vorst—filed for an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), stating that the candidates had been approved by the IBA's Disciplinary Committee, which had also approved the CCA's activities as being supportive of the IBA's mission.^[12][13] The CAS overruled the IBA decision, resulting in an Extraordinary IBA Congress in September; however, the IBA's members blocked van der Vorst's proposal to challenge Kremlev's re-election.^[5] By December 2022, the membership of the Common Cause Alliance had grown to 25 federations.^[14]

World Boxing

In April 2023, the IOC stated that it needs to have a partner International Federation for boxing by early 2025, otherwise the sport's presence at the 2028 Summer Olympics would be at risk.^[15] On 13 April 2023, World Boxing was launched as a competitor to the IBA, with its interim board including officials from member organizations of the CCA, and van der Vorst named inaugural president.^[16][17][18] The IBA condemned World Boxing as a "rogue organization" whose sole purpose was to destroy the IBA's integrity, and threatened sanctions against national federations, athletes, and officials who participate in its events.^[19][20]

On 22 June 2023, the IOC Executive Board voted to permanently withdraw its recognition of the IBA, citing a continued lack of progress on governance, finances, and addressing corruption since its original suspension.^[21] On 7 May 2024, World Boxing held its first formal meeting with the IOC, discussing the future of Olympic boxing, and the criteria that would have to be met for the IOC to consider a proposal to recognize World Boxing as the governing body for boxing.^[22]

On 26 September 2024, it was announced that Kazakhstani Olympic medallist Gennadiy Golovkin would lead World Boxing's Olympic Commission, serving as a liaison between World Boxing and the IOC on matters relating to Olympic boxing.^[23]

On 2 October 2024, World Boxing announced a four-year agreement to delegate drug testing activities to the International Testing Agency (ITA).^[24] On 10 October 2024, World Boxing agreed to delegate adjudication on all anti-doping violations to the Anti-Doping Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS AAD).^[25]

Competitions

World Boxing Championships

On 17 September 2024, World Boxing announced the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England, would host the organisation's inaugural World Boxing Championships from 4 to 14 September 2025.^{[26][27][28][29]}

U19 World Boxing Championships

On 19 June 2024, World Boxing announced the inaugural U19 World Boxing Championships to be held in Pueblo, Colorado from 25 October to 5 November 2024, held across 10 weight categories for both men and women.^[30]

Member federations

  Member federation: "+GB" indicates GB Boxing, whose catchment area overlaps the Home Nations members.

World Boxing currently has 61 member federations - 3 from Africa, 17 from the Americas, 19 from Asia, 17 from Europe, and 5 from Oceania.^[31][32]

History of Expansion

Date	Countries
13 April 2023	The US, New Zealand, Australia, the UK, England (separately), and the Netherlands were World Boxing's first cohort of members. (Total: 6)
24 August 2023	Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Honduras and Sweden joined. (Total: 12)
12 September 2023	Denmark, Mongolia, Panama and French Polynesia (Tahiti). (Total: 16)
20 October 2023	Finland, Iceland, Jamaica, Nigeria, Norway and Czechia. (Total: 22)
25 October 2023	The Philippines, Scotland, Wales, Suriname and the US Virgin Islands. (Total: 27)
?	Tuvalu joins World Boxing before the 1 year anniversary. (Total: 28)
May 31, 2024	India. (Total: 29)
21 June 2024	Barbados, Dominica, Peru and Singapore. (Total: 33)
26 July 2024	Italy, South Korea, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands. (Total: 37)
10 August 2024	In a report published, the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines president Ricky Vargas told The Philippine Star that he believed that the IOC would recognise World Boxing if they admitted at least 50 members, and claimed that the body was about to pass that threshold with 51.[33]
16 August 2024	Chinese Tapei, Pakistan, Bhutan, Fiji, Ecuador. (Total: 42)
10 September 2024	Japan, Algeria. (Total: 44)
26 September 2024	Kazakhstan filed a submission to join on 26 September.[34]
3 October 2024	During Panam Sports' general assembly on 3 October 2024, World Boxing stated that it had 48 members (including four unannounced members), with 10 under review.[35]
31 October 2024	On 31 October 2024, World Boxing announced the admission of Andorra, Belgium, Iraq, Lithuania, Madagascar, Kyrgyzstan and Thailand, expanding its presence in Asia, and bringing its total to 51 federations.[36]
4 November 2024	On 4 November 2024 the admission of Guatemala, Laos, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan—which had won the most gold medals in boxing at the 2024 Summer Olympics was announced.[37] (Total: 55)
12 December 2024	Cambodia, Dominican Republic, Jordan, Myanmar and Palestine. (Total: 60)[38]

Africa

• Algeria (Fédération Algérienne de Boxe)^[39]
• Madagascar (Madagascar Boxing Federation)^[32]
• Nigeria (Nigeria Boxing Federation)^[40]

Americas

• Argentina (Argentinean Boxing Federation)^[41]
• Barbados (Amateur Boxing Association of Barbados)^[3]
• Bermuda (Bermuda Boxing Federation)^[42]
• Brazil (Confederação Brasileira Boxe)^[41]
• Canada (Canadian Amateur Boxing Association)^[41]
• Cayman Islands (Cayman Islands Boxing Association)^[42]
• Dominica (Dominica Boxing Association)^[3]
• Dominican Republic (Federacion Dominicana de Boxeo)^[38]
• Ecuador (Ecuadorian Boxing Federation)^[43]
• Guatemala (Federación Nacional de Boxeo de Guatemala)^[37]
• Honduras (Federación Hondureña de Boxeo)^[41]
• Jamaica (Jamaica Boxing Board of Control)^[40]
• Panama (Panamanian Boxing Federation)^[44]
• Peru (Peruvian Sports Boxing Federation)^[3]
• Suriname (Suriname Boxing Federation)^[45]
• United States (USA Boxing)^[46]
• US Virgin Islands (US Virgin Islands Boxing Federation)^[45]

Asia

• Bhutan (Bhutan Boxing Federation)^[43]
• Cambodia (Cambodia Boxing Federation)^[38]
• Chinese Taipei (Chinese Taipei Boxing Association)^[43]
• India (Boxing Federation of India)^[47]
• Iraq (Iraq national amateur boxing athletes)^[32]
• Japan (Japan Boxing Federation)^[39]
• Jordan (Jordan Boxing Association)^[38]
• Kazakhstan (Kazakhstan Boxing Federation)^[37]
• Kyrgyzstan (Kyrgyz Republic Boxing Federation)^[32]
• Laos (Lao Boxing Federation)^[37]
• Mongolia (Mongolia Amateur Boxing Association)^[44]
• Myanmar (Myanmar Boxing Federation)^[38]
• Pakistan (Pakistan Boxing Federation)^[43]
• Palestine (Palestine Boxing Federation)^[38]
• Philippines (Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines)^[45]
• Singapore (Singapore Amateur Boxing Association)^[3]
• South Korea (Boxing Association of Korea)^[42]
• Thailand (Thailand Boxing Association)^[32]
• Uzbekistan (Uzbekistan Boxing Federation)^[37]

Europe

• Andorra (Andorran Boxing Federation)^[32]
• Belgium (Vlaamse Boks Liga)^[32]
• Czech Republic (Czech Boxing Association)^[40]
• Denmark (Danish Boxing Association)^[44]
• England (Boxing Association of England)^[46]
• Finland (Finnish Boxing Federation)^[40]
• Germany (Deutscher Boxsport-Verband)^[41]
• Iceland (Hnefaleikasamband Íslands)^[40]
• Italy (Federazione Pugilistica Italiana)^[42]
• Lithuania (Lithuania Boxing Federation)^[32]
• Netherlands (Nederlandse Boksbond)^[46]
• Norway (Norwegian Boxing Federation)^[40]
• Scotland (Boxing Scotland)^[45]
• Sweden (Swedish Boxing Federation)^[41]
• Wales (Welsh Boxing)^[45]
• Poland (Polski Związek Bokserski)^[48]

In addition, GB Boxing is an associate member: this is because the governance of amateur boxing in the United Kingdom, like cricket, football and rugby union, is devolved to the Home Nations.^[46]

Oceania

• Australia (Boxing Australia Limited)^[46]
• Fiji (Fiji Amateur Boxing Association)^[43]
• French Polynesia (Polynesian Boxing Federation)^[44]
• New Zealand (Boxing New Zealand)^[46]
• Tuvalu (Tuvalu Amateur Boxing Association)^[49]

Presidents

• Boris van der Vorst (2023–present)

Tournaments

• Elite World Boxing Championships
• World Boxing Cup
• World Boxing Challenge
• U19 World Boxing Championships

References

1. "International Boxing Association stripped by International Olympic Committee of status". BBC Sport. 22 June 2023.
2. "Fresh twist in boxing saga as new body, World Boxing, launches to save sport". The New Indian Express. 14 April 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
3. "World Boxing approves applications from four more National Federations to increase membership to 33 countries". World Boxing. Renens. 21 June 2024. Archived from the original on 12 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
4. "Putin's ally running world amateur boxing looks to uphold Russian soft power". Le Monde. 11 December 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
5. Carpenter, Les (27 September 2022). "Boxing's governing body nixes new election, jeopardizing Olympic future". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 6 October 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022. ...Though Kremlev has promised to reform the IBA, he has alarmed IOC officials by moving much of the organization's operations from Lausanne, Switzerland to Russia.
6. "IOC bans AIBA from boxing at 2020 Tokyo Olympics". The Independent. 26 June 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
7. "The Culture War Came to Olympic Boxing. It Started in Russia". Wall Street Journal. 5 August 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
8. Ingle, Sean; Ingle, Exclusive by Sean (11 May 2022). "Olympic boxing at risk, IOC warns Iba chief amid fresh governance worries". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
9. "Amateur boxing crisis grows as Russian Iba president's rival loses election appeal". The Guardian. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
10. Ingle, Sean (13 May 2022). "Amateur boxing crisis grows as Russian Iba president's rival loses election appeal". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
11. "Under-fire IBA says it cannot "completely cancel" contract with Gazprom". www.insidethegames.biz. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
12. "Van der Vorst to challenge IBA ineligibility ruling at CAS". www.insidethegames.biz. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
13. "Van der Vorst ruled ineligible to stand against Kremlev for IBA President". www.insidethegames.biz. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
14. Ochoa, Francis T. J. (25 December 2022). "Picson: Abap part of group looking to save boxing's Olympic stint". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
15. "IOC sets deadline of 'early 2025' to keep boxing in the Olympics for Los Angeles with a new partner". AP News. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
16. McAtee, Mike (23 April 2023). "Launch of a new International Federation for the Sport of Olympic-style boxing, Adaptive Boxing and Esport Boxing - World Boxing". USA Boxing. Archived from the original on 11 September 2024.
17. "IBA slams 'black sheep' breakaway body as schism roils boxing". Al Jazeera. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
18. "Breakaway group aims to save boxing's Olympic status". ABC News. Associated Press. 13 April 2023. Archived from the original on 13 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
19. "IBA slams 'black sheep' breakaway body as schism roils boxing". Al Jazeera. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
20. "IBA slams World Boxing formation and threatens participants with expulsion". www.insidethegames.biz. 14 April 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
21. Ingle, Sean (21 June 2023). "IOC set to strip IBA of its recognition as the official boxing body for Olympics". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077.
22. "World Boxing meets the International Olympic Committee to start Olympic journey". 8 May 2024. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024.
23. "World Boxing name Gennady Golovkin as chair in bid to fill void left by IBA". The Guardian. 26 September 2024. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
24. "World Boxing entrusts the ITA to design and independently manage a comprehensive anti-doping program for its athletes". AP News. International Testing Agency. 2 October 2024. Archived from the original on 2 October 2024. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
25. "World Boxing agrees to delegate adjudication on all anti-doping violations to the Anti-Doping Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS AAD)". AP News. World Boxing. 10 October 2024. Archived from the original on 7 November 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
26. "World Boxing to host inaugural championships in Liverpool". Reuters. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
27. "First World Boxing Championships heading to Liverpool in 2025". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
28. "Liverpool wins bid to host inaugural World Boxing Championships 2025". England Boxing. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
29. "City to host first World Boxing Championships". Birkenhead News. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
30. "2024 U19 World Boxing Championships to be held in Colorado". World Boxing. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
31. "World Boxing - Membership". 16 August 2024. Archived from the original on 16 August 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
32. "Membership of World Boxing rises to 51 National Federations after it approves applications from seven more countries". World Boxing. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
33. Beltran, Nelson (10 August 2024). "Olympic boxing can be saved – Vargas". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
34. "Kazakhstan officially bids to join World Boxing". 26 September 2024. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024.
35. "Gennadiy Golovkin Addresses PanAm Sports General Assembly on the Current Situation of World Boxing". World Boxing. 3 October 2024. Archived from the original on 5 October 2024. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
36. "World Boxing adds seven more national federations to its structure". Inside the Games. 31 October 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
37. "Four new countries join World Boxing pushing membership to 55". Inside the Games. 4 November 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
38. "World Boxing: Olympic-Confident Breakaway hits 60 associates". Si. 21 December 2024. Archived from the original on 21 December 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
39. "Algerian boxing that's home to Imane Khelif joins global body trying to save Olympic status". AP News. New York City: Associated Press. 10 September 2024. Archived from the original on 12 September 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
40. "World Boxing increases global footprint with addition of six new members including first National Federation from Africa". World Boxing. 20 October 2023. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
41. "World Boxing announces six more members". World Boxing. 24 August 2023. Archived from the original on 28 July 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
42. "World Boxing approves more membership applications from National Federations including Italy and South Korea". World Boxing. 26 July 2024. Archived from the original on 28 July 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
43. "World Boxing receives post-Olympic boost with announcement of five new member National Federations". World Boxing. 16 August 2024. Archived from the original on 16 August 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
44. "World Boxing announces four more members". World Boxing. 12 September 2023. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
45. "World Boxing approves applications from five more National Federations to increase membership to 27 countries". World Boxing. 25 October 2023. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
46. "World Boxing names first 6 members as it seeks IOC recognition". ESPN. Bristol. Reuters. 9 August 2023. Archived from the original on 10 August 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
47. "Boxing Federation of India agrees to join World Boxing". World Boxing. 31 May 2024. Archived from the original on 28 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
48. https://www.sport.pl/boks/7,64992,31564834,trzesienie-ziemi-w-polskim-boksie-arcywazne-wiesci-dla-szeremety.html#sondaz
49. "Thank you to all our member National Federations for your support in our first year". Instagram. 14 April 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2024.

External links

• Official website