World Boxing has welcomed the decision by the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to grant it provisional recognition as the International Federation (IF) within the Olympic Movement governing the sport of boxing at world level.
Following the announcement today (26 February 2025), the President of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst, said: “This is a very significant day for everyone connected with the sport of boxing in the Olympic Movement. Keeping its place at the Olympic Games is absolutely critical to the future of our sport at every level, from the grassroots to the highest echelons of professional boxing, and this decision by the IOC takes us one step closer to our objective of seeing boxing restored to the Olympic programme.
“It has taken a huge team effort from a large number of people across the globe to get to this point and none of it would have been possible without the hard work and commitment of all of the National Federations, boxers, coaches, officials and boxing leaders that have worked together to make this possible.
“Today’s decision by the IOC is an important milestone, however everyone connected with World Boxing understands that being part of the Olympic Movement is a privilege and a responsibility and not a right. There is still a lot of work to do, and everyone is as committed as ever to continuing to work together and doing everything within our power to deliver a better future for our sport and ensuring that boxing remains at heart of the Olympic Movement.”
The IOC’s decision was also welcomed by the former two-time unified world middleweight champion, Gennadiy Golovkin, who is the Chair of World Boxing’s Olympic Commission and the President of the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan. World Boxing’s Olympic Commission was established in September 2024, to liaise with the IOC and support and assist the process of developing a pathway to ensuring that boxing is restored to the Games.
Speaking after today’s announcement by the IOC, Gennadiy Golovkin, who won a silver medal at the Athens Olympics in 2004, said: “Receiving provisional Olympic recognition from the IOC is an important achievement and demonstrates that our sport is on the right path. This decision brings us one step closer to our main goal – preserving boxing at the Olympic Games.
“I am pleased that through the continuous efforts of all the people who support World Boxing, we have managed to achieve this result. Establishing an international federation built on the principles of integrity and fairness is our shared mission for the future generation of athletes and future champions. There is still a lot to do to achieve all the goals set, so we will not stop here.”
The news was warmly received by a number of boxers that won Olympic medals in Paris and Tokyo.
Cindy Ngamba, who was the first refugee in history to win an Olympic medal, when she won Middleweight bronze at Paris 2024, added: “Having the opportunity to compete for the Refugee Team at Paris 2024 has transformed my career and my life and shows how important it is that boxers continue to have the opportunity to take part in the Olympic Games.
“The thought of being able to compete at the Olympics was one of the things that kept me going in difficult times and inspired me to pursue a career in boxing. It would be hugely damaging to the careers of male and female boxers across the world if this opportunity did not exist for them, so the decision by the IOC to provisionally recognise World Boxing is really good news for the sport as it keeps the Olympic dream alive.”
Richard Torrez Jr, who won a Super-heavyweight silver medal for the USA at Tokyo 2020 before turning professional with Top Rank, said: “It is impressive to see the continuous progress that World Boxing has made as an international federation in such a short time. Provisional recognition by the IOC is a very positive step and will enable the organisation to continue to provide a platform for boxers from across the globe to compete and hone their skills at the highest international levels. It is great to see this progress and I am confident that the organization is moving in the right direction.”
Tokyo 2020 gold medallist and current WBA, IBO and The Ring Welterweight World Champion, Lauren Price, who is also an Athlete Representative on the Executive Board of World Boxing commented: “It was always my dream to compete at the Olympic Games and nothing I achieve in my professional career will ever top the achievement of winning gold at Tokyo 2020.
“Competing and winning gold at the Olympics Games provided me with a platform that is enabling me to enjoy a successful career as a professional boxer. For up-and-coming boxers to be denied this opportunity would be damaging for their careers and the sport as a whole.
“World Boxing has consistently fought to ensure that boxers can continue to have the chance to compete on the highest stage in sport at the Olympic Games and it is very positive to hear that the IOC has decided to provisionally recognise World Boxing.
“Hopefully this will be the first step toward seeing boxing restored to the Olympic programme which will be a massive boost for the sport and the hopes and dreams of male and female boxers at all levels across the world.”
