World Boxing is led by an Executive Board and a President, Boris van der Vorst, elected by members at the organisation’s inaugural Congress in Frankfurt on 24 and 25 November 2023. It includes a male and a female Athlete Representative to ensure the views of boxers have influence at the highest level of decision making.
All candidates were assessed by an Independent Vetting Panel using open-source materials only and the 26 member National Federations that attended the Congress were all eligible to vote in the elections.
The Executive Board of World Boxing is comprised of:
Boris van der Vorst (NED), President
Boris van der Vorst is a distinguished boxing administrator and healthcare entrepreneur with a remarkable career in sports leadership and business. As a passionate advocate for boxing, he has played a pivotal role in the sport’s global development, focusing on maintaining its central place within the Olympic Movement. His leadership is characterized by transformative initiatives that have significantly raised the profile of boxing both in the Netherlands and on the international stage.
In 2023, Boris was elected President of World Boxing, following his instrumental role as Interim Executive Board Member and Founding Director of the organization. He also serves as Honorary President of the Dutch Boxing Federation, having previously led the federation from 2014 to 2023. During his tenure, Boris implemented policies that drove substantial growth in memberships and achieved historic milestones, including securing the first Olympic boxing medals for the Netherlands in 24 years at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games. His contributions to the sport were further recognized during his term as Chair of the European Boxing Confederation’s Passion for Boxing Commission from 2016 to 2022, where he was honored with the 2018 EUBC President’s Award for outstanding performance and enduring efforts in promoting boxing worldwide.
Ryan O’Shea (CAN), Vice-President
Ryan O’Shea is a seasoned boxing administrator and business professional, holding a Master’s degree in Business Administration. With over a decade of experience in sports governance, Ryan is committed to ensuring that boxing remains a cornerstone of the Olympic program. Elected as the Vice President of World Boxing during its inaugural congress in November 2023 in Frankfurt, Germany, Ryan brings a wealth of expertise and leadership to the organization.
In addition to his role at World Boxing, Ryan serves as the President of Boxing Canada, where he continues to drive the sport forward with dedication and vision. As a former elite athlete, Ryan was a proud member of Boxing Canada’s national team, representing his country at the World Youth Championships in Mexico.
Matt Holt (GB), Vice-President
Matt Holt is a founder member and Vice President of World Boxing. He is also the Chief Executive Officer of GB Boxing, which is responsible for the delivery of the elite programme for Olympic boxing in Great Britain. Matt has been with the organisation since 2009 and in that time has led GB Boxing through the most successful period in history for Great Britain’s boxers, with multi-medal performances at the London, Rio and Tokyo Olympic Games.
Matt has previously worked for Sport England and Birkbeck, University of London, where he specialised in the governance and regulation of sport. Outside of work, Matt is kept busy with a young family, enjoys watching Liverpool FC and walking in the Scottish mountains.
Dinah Glykidis (AUS), Vice-President
Dinah Glykidis has been working in the sporting industry for over 18 years in Australia across swimming, rugby league and boxing. With her depth of knowledge in sports administration Dinah brings her expertise in high-performance, operational, governance and financial background.
Dinah is the current Chief Executive Officer of Boxing Australia and serves as a Director on the Confederation of Australian Sport Board, where they diligently advocate for sports at the highest level, engaging with government bodies and other pivotal stakeholders.
Michael Muller (GER), Executive Board Member
Michael Muller is a seasoned professional in sport with over 2 decades under his belt. From 1999 to 2009 he served as the Sports Director of the German Rowing Association, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s high-performance sports strategies. Since 2010, he has held the position of Sports Director and General Secretary of the German Boxing Association, overseeing all high-performance sport processes. His role includes maintain a strong connection with the German National Olympic Committee and developing national strategies for nomination and qualification.
In 2017 he was the CEO of the Local Organization Committee for the 2017 AIBA World Championships in Hamburg and served as a member of the AIBA Technical & Rules Commission from 2019 to 2021. From 2021 to 2022, he was the Chairman of the IBA Competition Committee, where he continued to enhance the international boxing regulations and competition standards. In November 2023, Michael was elected at the World Boxing Inaugural Congress to the Executive Board where he brings his experience and knowledge to the newly formed organization.
Victorico Vargas (PHI), Executive Board Member
Mr. Vargas is the immediate past President of the Philippine Olympic Committee and is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the POC. He is the Chairman of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines and was a former member of the Executive Committee of the Asian Boxing Confederation. He is also the Chairman of the Philippine Basketball Association from 2017 to present and the Vice President of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and member of the Executive Board of FIBA LOC World Basketball 2023 as host.
In addition to his involvement in amateur sport, Mr. Vargas was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Maynilad Water Services, Inc. since August 2010. He joined PLDT in 2000 as its Human Resources Group Head and through his stay at PLDT got involved in managing the PLDT Business Transformation Office, Asset Protection and Management Group, and the PLDT International Carrier Business. He has worked in senior roles at Union Carbide, Pepsi Cola, Colgate Palmolive and Citibank, NA (both in Manila and in Southeast Asia). Mr. Vargas was educated at Ateneo de Manila and University of Santo Tomas with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology.
Suzanne Karrlander (SWE), Executive Board Member
Susanne Karrlander, is a seasoned professional in the realm of sports administration and fitness, who is currently serving as the President of the Swedish Boxing Federation, where she leverages her expertise and passion for the sport to drive development and growth initiatives. With a background at Actic, a renowned fitness centre chain, Suanne combines her business acumen with her love for boxing.
Her expertise extends internationally as a Technical Delegate, where she plays a critical role in ensuring the highest standard and fair play, athletes safety and welfare at boxing events on a global scale.
Her past leadership as the Chair of the European Women’s Committee underscores her commitment to gender equality in sports.
Marcos Candido de Brito (BRA), Executive Board Member
Marcos Candido de Brito is an experienced sports manager and lawyer. He possess extensive experience in institutional political relations in the executive and legislative branches at the national, state and municipal levels, as well as in sports policies across various tiers. This includes institutional relations between federal entities and corporate sectors.
Marcos has been part of the Brazilian Federation since 2008 where he contributed significant changes. Marcos now serves as the current President of Brazilian Federation.
Hernan Salvo (ARG), Chair Sport and Competition Committee
Hernán Salvo is an accomplished sports leader, boasting an extensive career in sports management and administration. His tenure as a Board Member of the Argentinian Boxing Federation from 1998 to 2023 highlights his deep commitment to the of boxing. Salvo’s role in organizing major events has been pivotal, including his contributions as a member of the Local Organizing Committees for numerous World Championships, Olympic qualifiers, and continental championships. His leadership roles also extends internationally where he has held positions such as General Manager, Commission Secretary, and Technical Official at key events around the globe.
Salvo’s impact is further exemplified by his strategic roles in high-profile events, such as the PANAM Games and Olympic qualifiers. His leadership in the Americas, including overseeing multiple continental championships underscores his influence in shaping the sport’s competitive landscape.
Dr Armando Sanchez (USA), Chair, Chair Medical and Anti-Doping
Dr Armando Sanchez graduated from the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin United States in May of 1990 with a Medical Degree (MD). His residency was in Family Medicine and in 1993, Dr Sanchez finished his medical residency and became a board certified family physician in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Dr Sanchez has been involved in Olympic Style Boxing since 1994. The past 30 years he has become the chairman of the medical committee for USA Boxing and is currently serving as member of the medical advisory committee for USA Boxing.
Through his participation with Paris Boxing Task Force (PBU), Dr Sanchez was a ringside physician for the European Games in Krakow, Poland, the African Olympic Qualifier in Dakar, Senegel, the first Olympic Qualifier in Milan, Italy and the second Olympic Qualifier in Bangkok, Thailand. Prior to this experience he had also participated with the Tokyo Task Force which led to the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021 where he also participated as a ringside physician.
Elected as Chair of the Medical and Anti-Doping Committee of World Boxing in November 2023, Dr Sanchez brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as he leads the Medical and Anti-Doping Committee of World Boxing.
Dr Sanchez is a certified ringside physician as well as a board certified family physician and is fluent in both Spanish and English.
Julia Felton (AUS), Chair Finance and Audit Committee
Julia Felton is a prominent figure in Australian boxing with a robust career spanning over two decades. Since March 2016, she has served as the Competition Manager for Boxing Australia, where she ensures that all national boxing tournaments adhere to the technical and competition rules set by Boxing Australia and the International Boxing Association (IBA). Her role involves collaborating with Member Associations to fulfill host agreement obligations and providing technical support for national events. In addition, Felton has been a Director at Boxing Australia since June 2011, contributing to the strategic and operational planning of national boxing priorities, overseeing policy reviews, and ensuring compliance with anti-doping regulations.
Felton’s influence extends internationally through her tenure as a member of various Women’s Boxing Commissions from December 2010 to December 2022, where she played a key role in the development and promotion of women’s boxing worldwide. She also chairs the Australian Women’s Commission, spearheading efforts to advance women’s boxing in Australia. Her earlier contributions include serving as Secretary and Assistant Secretary for Boxing ACT, where she managed daily operations and tournament oversight. With a background in grant management and compliance through her work with the National Indigenous Australians Agency, Felton combines her sports management expertise with a deep commitment to advancing boxing at both national and international levels.
Lauren Price (WAL), Athlete Representative
Lauren Price is the female athlete’s representative for World Boxing. Drawing on her distinguished career as both an amateur and professional boxer Lauren is uniquely positioned to advocate for her fellow athletes. Price’s amateur career is highlighted by her exceptional achievements, including winning gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and securing multiple European and World Championship titles.
In her transition to the professional ranks, Price has continued to impress with a series of notable victories, solidifying her status as a prominent figure in the middleweight division. As an Athlete Representative, she brings invaluable insights from her experiences in the ring to ensure that the needs and concerns of boxers are effectively addressed. Price’s role involves advocating for athlete rights, promoting fair competition, and supporting the development of the sport, making her a vital contributor to the advancement of boxing on a global scale.
Richard Torrez Jr (USA), Athlete Representative
Richard Torrez Jr. is the Athlete Representative for World Boxing. In his role as athletes rep Richard leverages his remarkable experience both as an amateur and professional boxer to advocate for athletes within the sport. Torrez has earned recognition for his achievements in the ring, including a celebrated amateur career that saw him become a standout competitor on the international stage. His notable accomplishments include winning a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics for USA Boxing.
Transitioning to professional boxing, Torrez has continued to build on his success with impressive victories and a growing reputation as a formidable force in the heavyweight division. As an Athlete Representative, Richard brings a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by boxers, using his firsthand experience to support and advance the interests of his boxing peers.
Simon Toulson, Secretary General (without voting rights)
Simon holds a Masters in Sport Science from John Moores University, Liverpool. He has an extensive history in international sports management having worked previously at UK Sport, Anti Doping Unit and for Manchester United Football Club. He worked for the International Olympic Committee for 10 years in the Sports Department and headed up the Olympic Games Technical Services Department, NOC Relations.
Simon then worked at Formula One for two years before becoming Secretary General for the International Canoe Federation where he oversaw the organisations operations for 15 years. He recently was interim Executive Director for International Weightlifting overseeing the transition of new leadership, before being part of the founding group that launched World Boxing. Simon was a non-executive Board Member of GB Boxing for seven years.
