2024

President of the National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan Gennadiy Golovkin appointed Chair of new Olympic Commission by World Boxing

The President of the National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan and 2004 Olympic silver medallist and two-time middleweight world champion, Gennadiy Golovkin, has been appointed Chair of a new Olympic Commission by World Boxing, the International Federation established to ensure boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic Movement.

As Chair of the new Commission, Golovkin will work closely with World Boxing’s leadership to manage the organisation’s relationship with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and oversee the pathway to ensuring that boxing is restored to the sport programme for the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

Other members of the Commission will be added in the coming weeks to ensure it is diverse and representative of the global boxing community.

Launched in April 2023, World Boxing currently has 44 National Federations as members and held its first formal meeting with the IOC in May 2024. 

The main areas of focus of the new Olympic Commission, in developing a pathway for boxing to be restored to the Olympic programme, will be:

  • World Boxing promotion
  • Membership and recruitment
  • Financial sustainability
  • Support the IOC process for recognition of World Boxing

After a hugely successful boxing career, which saw him win a silver medal at the Athens Olympics in 2004 and the middleweight world title twice in a professional career made-up of 42 wins, two losses and a draw, Golovkin was appointed the President of Kazakhstan’s National Olympic Committee in 2024.

In this role he expects the National Federation for boxing in Kazakhstan to lead by example as a full member of World Boxing.

On his appointment as Chair of World Boxing’s Olympic Commission, Golovkin said: “For me personally, as well as for all the sports world, it is important to preserve boxing as an Olympic sport, and this will be my top priority. I also intend to work closely with the IOC on issues of boxing’s commitment to the Olympic values ​​of honesty, fairness and transparency.

“I am confident that my experience as a professional athlete will help build systemic work within World Boxing, and through joint efforts we will be able to give boxing a new impetus to its development, but there is still much to be done.”

The President of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst, added: “Gennadiy is one of the most globally significant boxers of the last decade and to have him supporting our cause and using his experience, expertise and profile to work on behalf of World Boxing is a significant boost for our organisation.

“As someone that had a hugely successful career in both Olympic-style and professional boxing, Gennadiy has a deep knowledge of the sport and completely understands why continuing to be part of the Olympic Movement is so vital to the ongoing success of boxing at every level, from the grassroots to the professional ranks.

“Gennadiy will be a huge asset to our organisation and I look forward to working closely with him in delivering our mission to ensure boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic Movement.”

World Boxing was launched in April 2023 and aims to keep Boxing in the Olympic Games. On 7 May 2024, it held the first formal meeting with the IOC which signaled the start of formal collaboration aimed at establishing a pathway for boxing to remain in the Olympic Games.

Liverpool in England wins bid to host inaugural World Boxing Championships 2025

Liverpool in England has been selected as the host city for the inaugural World Boxing Championships 2025 for Elite men and women.

The Championships, which will take place from 4 – 14 September 2025 at the M&S Bank Arena, will be the first Elite-level global championships hosted by World Boxing, the new International Federation which has been set-up to ensure that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic Movement.

The action will feature competition in 10 weight classes for both men and women and will be the first time ever that male and female boxers have competed in Olympic-style boxing for the title of world champion at the same event.

The precise weight categories will be finalised in the new edition of World Boxing’s Competition Rules which will be published following its forthcoming Congress in November 2024.

The bid to host the World Boxing Championships 2025 was developed by a group of partners including England Boxing, GB Boxing, Liverpool City Council and the M&S Bank Arena and is supported by the National Lottery and UK Sport. 

Liverpool has a long history of staging major international events and was the location for the European Boxing Championships in 2008.  More recently it hosted the 2019 Vitality Netball World Cup and the 2022 World Gymnastics Championships at the M&S Bank Arena and The Open Golf Championship at Royal Liverpool in 2023.  The arena also hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 2023.

The President of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst said: “Liverpool is a globally famous city with a proud heritage in boxing and it will be a fantastic place to host our first ever Elite World Boxing Championships. This will be a superb showcase for the sport of Olympic boxing, particularly as it will be the first time ever that the men and women’s competition will run alongside each other as part of the same Championships.

“I would like to thank all of our partners in Great Britain and the city of Liverpool for their enthusiasm and support in wanting to stage these Championships and I look forward to working closely with all of them to deliver what will be a historic event for the boxers and for our sport.”

Jerome Pels, Chief Executive, England Boxing added: “The World Boxing Championships is not just another big sporting event – it is a game-changer for us. It is a strategic initiative that aligns with our goals of establishing a unified international governing body, inspiring the next generation of boxers, boosting participation, and strengthening communities through boxing. We are thrilled to host this event and confident it will have a huge, lasting impact on both our organisation and the future of the sport itself.”

Esther Britten, Head of Events & External Affairs at UK Sport added: “We are delighted to be supporting the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool next year, an event which will support efforts to help the sport establish a long-term future in the Olympic movement. After the incredible summer of sport, having the opportunity to compete in front of a home crowd is a huge boost for our boxers. We look forward to working with our event hosting partners to deliver this exciting event.”

Councillor Harry Doyle, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Health, said: “It is a huge coup for Liverpool to be hosting theWorld Boxing Championships. This is a massive global sporting event and one which the city is proud to be welcoming. Liverpool has a long, historic connection with boxing and we are delighted to be playing our part in what will be a pivotal step for the future of the sport. We also look forward to working with our communities and boxing clubs to ensure that we can support the future grassroots development of boxing in the city. Our winning bid also underlines the city’s appeal and ability to showcase the world’s best, and I’m sure these world championships will be just as popular as those we staged for Gymnastics and Netball”.

Ben Williams, Commercial & Business Development Director at M&S Bank Arena commented: “We are delighted to be hosting this auspicious event. Liverpool loves boxing and we intend to use our world-class facilities and vast experience of hosting major events to put on the best show for visitors from across the globe. As a venue based on Liverpool’s famous waterfront, in the heart of a city that is immersed in sport, we’re perfectly positioned to provide a fantastic experience.”

Matt Holt, Chief Executive of GB Boxing, the organisation which manages the Olympic programme for boxing in Great Britain, added: “Having a major international tournament, especially the inaugural World Boxing Championships, on home soil is fantastic news for the boxers in our squad. Being part of the GB Boxing squad often means regularly competing abroad, so the chance to box in a world championship at home presents is great for the boxers and I am sure they will all be very keen to make the most of this opportunity.”

World Boxing was launched in April 2023 and aims to ensure that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic movement.  On 7 May 2024 it held its first meeting with the IOC which signalled the start of formal collaboration between the two organisations aimed at establishing a pathway for boxing to remain in the Olympic Games.

World Boxing currently has 44 members covering all five Continents that compete in international boxing. Its membership is expected to have grown significantly by September 2025.

Entry details for World Boxing Cup Finals in Sheffield 2024

There are ten days left to submit entries for the World Boxing Cup Finals which are set to take place at the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield from 27-30 November 2024.

The competition, which is being hosted by England Boxing and World Boxing in association with GB Boxing, will be the culmination of the World Boxing Cup series for 2024 when the stage winners and other top-ranked boxers from this year’s events will compete for the World Boxing Cup Trophy.

To secure your place in the competition, contact:

sheffield2024@gbboxing.org.uk

00 44 114 223 5613

Japan and Algeria are the latest two National Federations to join World Boxing and support its efforts to keep the sport at the heart of the Olympic Movement

The National Federations for boxing in Japan and Algeria have become the latest two countries to join World Boxing.

It means the new International Federation, which was established to ensure that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic Movement, now has 44 members covering all five Continents that compete in international boxing.

Japan and Algeria take the number of countries that have joined World Boxing since the end of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games to seven and follows the recent approval of membership applications from Chinese Taipei, Pakistan, Bhutan, Fiji and Ecuador.

All of the National Federations have completed a rigorous application process to join World Boxing. They are deemed to be in good standing and, through their statutes and operating processes, able to demonstrate:

  • A transparent and open election process for the appointment of office bearing roles
  • The existence and operation of WADA-recognised anti-doping polices and processes
  • Evidence of a structured, dispute resolution and appeals process that is either fully independent or subject to external input
  • Formal recognition by either their National Olympic Committee (NOC) or Ministry for Sport
  • A solid national and international boxing sports programme

The President of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst, said: “The additions of Japan and Algeria enhance the global profile of World Boxing by increasing our presence in Asia and Africa. Their decision to join World Boxing is further evidence of the widespread desire for change that exists across our sport and illustrates how important it is that we retain boxing’s place at the heart of the Olympic Movement.

“We are continuing to process applications from a number of countries and it is clear that more and more National Federations recognise that joining World Boxing is the only way they can ensure that their boxers will be able to continue to pursue their dream of competing on the biggest stage in sport at the Olympic Games.”

World Boxing was launched in April 2023 and aims to keep Boxing in the Olympic Games. On 7 May 2024, it held the first formal meeting with the IOC which signalled the start of formal collaboration aimed at establishing a pathway for boxing to remain in the Olympic Games.

World Boxing receives post-Olympic boost with announcement of five new member National Federations

The National Federations for boxing in Chinese Taipei, Pakistan, Bhutan, Fiji and Ecuador have become the latest five countries to join World Boxing, the new International Federation which has been established to ensure that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic Movement.

The new additions provide a significant boost to World Boxing in the aftermath of the 2024 Olympic Games and mean it now has 42 member National Federations covering all of the five Continents that compete in international boxing.

Further membership announcements are expected in the coming weeks after World Boxing’s leaders held a series of meetings with the heads of multiple National Federations in the course of the recent boxing tournament at Paris 2024.

Chinese Taipei, Pakistan, Bhutan, Fiji and Ecuador have all completed a rigorous application process to join World Boxing. They are deemed to be in good standing and, through their statutes and operating processes, able to demonstrate:

  • A transparent and open election process for the appointment of office bearing roles
  • The existence and operation of WADA-recognised anti-doping polices and processes
  • Evidence of a structured, dispute resolution and appeals process that is either fully independent or subject to external input
  • Formal recognition by either their National Olympic Committee (NOC) or Ministry for Sport
  • A solid national and international boxing sports programme

The President of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst, said: “I am very happy to welcome Chinese Taipei, Pakistan, Bhutan, Fiji and Ecuador to World Boxing and look forward to working closely with each of them in our efforts to ensure that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic movement. 

“My colleagues and I at World Boxing had a very productive two weeks at the recent Olympic Games in Paris when we met the leaders of many National Federations and I am very confident that we will continue to receive more membership applications in the coming weeks. 

“It is clear there is a huge appetite for change in international boxing and that many National Federations now recognise the only way we can ensure that boxing has a future within the Olympic Movement is by joining World Boxing.”

World Boxing was launched in April 2023 and aims to keep Boxing in the Olympic Games. On 7 May 2024, it held the first formal meeting with the IOC which signalled the start of formal collaboration aimed at establishing a pathway for boxing to remain in the Olympic Games.

Further information on World Boxing is available at www.worldboxing.org.

Final four gold medals won on last day of boxing competition

Yesterday saw the final four bouts of the boxing competition take place, with the final gold medals distributed, after fourteen days of action and 235 bouts.

In the Men’s 92kg+ weight category, Uzbekistan’s Bakhodir Jalolov won his second gold medal by defeating Spain’s Ayoub Ghadfa with a 5:0 unanimous decision victory.

Next up was the final of the Women’s 75kg, where China’s Li Qian won gold, getting the better of Panama’s Atheyna Bylon, who leaves with a silver medal.

The Men’s 57kg winner was Abdumalik Khalokov of Uzbekistan who dispatched of Kyrgyzstan’s Munarbek Seitbek Uulu by a scoreline of 5:0.

Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yu Ting became champion of the Women’s 57kg weight class with a 5:0 win over Poland’s Julia Szeremeta, who became the first Polish woman to win a boxing medal.

That concludes the action at this summer’s competition with gold medallists now decided across the thirteen weight classes.

For all the information and results, visit: https://worldboxing.org/how-to-follow-the-boxing-this-summer/

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STATEMENT

Following the completion of the boxing tournament at Paris 2024, the President of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst, said:

“The last 14 days of action at Paris 2024 have once again shown why boxing is such a central and important part of the Olympic Movement.

“The high-quality competition has produced a series of memorable bouts featuring 248 men and women from 69 countries across the world.

“It has shown why the Olympic Games is so important to boxing and why the sport is one of the most effective in delivering the values of the Olympic charter as shown by the diversity of the athlete cohort and the number of countries taking part and winning medals. Boxing truly is a global sport in which all countries have the opportunity to compete and a chance of Olympic glory.

“After such a fantastic and hard-fought competition, I would like to congratulate every boxer that has competed in Paris and especially the 52 men and women, from 30 countries plus the Refugee Olympic Team, that have won a medal.

“I would also like to thank the Paris Boxing Unit (PBU) for delivering the competition and the qualification campaign and congratulate them on the fantastic staging of the event.

“The North Paris Arena and Roland Garros have been superb venues and both have enjoyed noisy sell-out crowds that have provided a brilliant platform to showcase the skills, determination and courage of the boxers.

“The energy, passion and emotions seen during this tournament have shown that this is the absolute pinnacle for boxers and it would be a tragedy if Paris 2024 turned out to be the last time ever that boxing appeared on the Olympic programme.

“It would be devastating for everyone connected with the sport at all levels and in every part of the world. Fewer people will come into the sport at the grassroots and there will be less opportunities for boxers at the elite levels of both amateur and professional boxing. It would be a disaster that we cannot allow to happen.

“Since it expelled the previous international federation, the IOC has made it abundantly clear that the only way that boxing will be restored to the programme for Los Angeles 2028 is if it has a trusted and reliable International Federation (IF) to work with that has support of the National Federations (NFs).

“World Boxing is that IF. And we are committed to creating a sustainable and inclusive sporting structure – underpinned by strong governance and transparent financial management – where all boxers can compete and excel knowing that the integrity of the sport is guaranteed and competition is fair.

“Coming into the Games, World Boxing was established as a credible organisation with 37 member NFs covering every Continent that participates in boxing. 

“In the course of the tournament we have received several completed membership applications from NFs to join World Boxing and, following my conversations with numerous boxing leaders from across the world over the last two weeks in Paris, I am very confident that we will soon have more than 50 members, as the leaders of many NFs have assured me that they will apply to join World Boxing once this tournament is completed.

“We are also delivering a calendar of high-quality competitions. In September we will hold our first event in Asia when the World Boxing Cup takes place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and in October and November we will host our first global World Boxing Championships, when the U19 World Championships get underway in Colorado, USA.

“Crucially World Boxing has established relations with the IOC, following a meeting in May 2024, and World Boxing has developed a pathway to ensuring that boxing is restored to the programme of the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028.

“This pathway is dependent upon NFs, and the IOC has made it clear that any country that wants to see their boxers have the opportunity to compete at a future Olympic Games needs to take immediate steps to join World Boxing. 

“This is the only course of action that will ensure that Paris 2024 is not the last time we see boxing at the Olympic Games. We cannot allow boxing to exit the Olympic stage, and I invite every NF that cares about their boxers and the future of the sport to take immediate steps to join World Boxing now and work with us to deliver a better future for the sport and ensure that boxing continues to remain at the heart of the Olympic Movement.”

Four finals take place on penultimate day of boxing action

Day thirteen saw four final bouts take place in the Women’s 50kg, Women’s 66kg, Men’s 71kg and Men’s 92kg weight categories.

In the Women’s 50kg, Yu Wu of China secured the gold medal with a 4:1 win against Turkey’s Buse Naz Cakiroglu, who earned a silver medal for her nation, having also won silver at Tokyo.

Next up was the Women’s 66kg, where Algeria’s Imane Khelif was crowned champion after defeating China’s Liu Yang via a unanimous decision.

Uzbekistan’s Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev was the winner in the Men’s 71kg final. He got the better of Mexico’s Marco Alonso Verde Alvarez by a scoreline of 5:0.

Finally, in the Men’s 92kg, Lazizbek Mullojonov of Uzbekistan defeated Azerbaijan’s Loren Berto Alfonso Dominguez with a dominant 5:0 unanimous decision. Dominguez secured a silver medal in defeat, going one better than his bronze earned in Tokyo.

The boxing competition will come to a close today with the last gold medal bouts in the Women’s 57kg, Men’s 57kg, Women’s 75kg and Men’s 92kg+.

For all the information including schedule, how to stream and results, visit: https://worldboxing.org/how-to-follow-the-boxing-this-summer/

World Boxing will also be posting updates throughout the competition on its social channels: