World Boxing

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World Boxing
AbbreviationWB
Formation13 April 2023; 18 months ago (2023-04-13)
Founded atSwitzerland Renens, Lausanne, Switzerland
TypeBoxing federation
HeadquartersChemin du Levant 6, Renens, 1020, Switzerland
Region served
Worldwide
Membership
55 national federations
President
Netherlands Boris van der Vorst
Vice-President(s)
  • Canada Ryan O’Shea
  • United Kingdom Matt Holt
  • Australia Dinah Glykidis
Websiteworldboxing.org Edit this at Wikidata

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

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Common Cause Alliance

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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 2024, 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 has grown to 25 federations.[14]

Formation of World Boxing

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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 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]

Competitions

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World Boxing Championships

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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.[25][26][27][28]

U19 World Boxing Championships

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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.[29]

Member federations

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

World Boxing currently has 55 member federations - 3 from Africa, 16 from the Americas, 15 from Asia, 16 from Europe, and 5 from Oceania.[30][31]

In a report published 10 August 2024, 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.[32] Kazakhstan filed a submission to join on 26 September.[33] 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.[34]

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.[35] This was followed on 4 November 2024 by the admission of Guatemala, Laos, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan—which had won the most gold medals in boxing at the 2024 Summer Olympics.[36]

Africa

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Americas

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Asia

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Europe

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In addition, United Kingdom 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.[44]

Oceania

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Presidents

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  • Boris van der Vorst Netherlands (2023–present)

Tournaments

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References

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  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. ^ a b c d e "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. ^ a b 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. ^ Reuters (26 September 2024). "World Boxing name Gennady Golovkin as chair in bid to fill void left by IBA". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 November 2024. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  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 to host inaugural championships in Liverpool". Reuters. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  26. ^ "First World Boxing Championships heading to Liverpool in 2025". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  27. ^ "Liverpool wins bid to host inaugural World Boxing Championships 2025". England Boxing. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  28. ^ "City to host first World Boxing Championships". Birkenhead News. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  29. ^ "2024 U19 World Boxing Championships to be held in Colorado". World Boxing. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  30. ^ "World Boxing - Membership". 16 August 2024. Archived from the original on 16 August 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  31. ^ a b c d e f g h "Membership of World Boxing rises to 51 National Federations after it approves applications from seven more countries". World Boxing. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  32. ^ Beltran, Nelson (10 August 2024). "Olympic boxing can be saved – Vargas". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  33. ^ "Kazakhstan officially bids to join World Boxing". 26 September 2024. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024.
  34. ^ "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.
  35. ^ "World Boxing adds seven more national federations to its structure". Inside the Games. 31 October 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  36. ^ "Four new countries join World Boxing pushing membership to 55". Inside the Games. 4 November 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  37. ^ a b "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.
  38. ^ a b c d e f "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.
  39. ^ a b c d e f "World Boxing announces six more members". World Boxing. 24 August 2023. Archived from the original on 28 July 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  40. ^ a b c d "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.
  41. ^ a b c d e "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.
  42. ^ a b c d "World Boxing announces four more members". World Boxing. 12 September 2023. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  43. ^ a b c d e "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.
  44. ^ a b c d e f "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.
  45. ^ "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.
  46. ^ "Thank you to all our member National Federations for your support in our first year". Instagram. 14 April 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
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