News

The Executive Board of World Boxing has approved six more membership applications from the National Federations for boxing in Kosovo, Syria, Hungary, Malawi, Estonia and Switzerland to take its membership to 78 countries.

The confirmation of Hungary as the 75^th country to have its membership application approved by World Boxing’s Executive Board means that the International Federation has achieved one of the widely established criteria for Olympic inclusion, that a sport must be practiced in at least 75 countries on four continents.

All of the new 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, the existence and operation of WADA-recognised anti-doping polices and processes, evidence of independent, structured, dispute resolution and appeals processes, formal recognition by either their National Olympic Committee (NOC) or Ministry for Sport and a solid national and international boxing programme.

The President of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst, said: “This is a very significant milestone for World Boxing and I am delighted to welcome our six newest members and thank each of them for making the decision to join our mission to ensure that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic Movement.

“It is a particular pleasure to welcome Hungary as our 75^th member as this means that World Boxing has achieved one of the widely established criteria for a sport to be included in the Olympic Games. 

“This is very positive news for everyone involved with boxing, at all levels, throughout the world and I would like to thank all of our member National Federations for their steadfast support and commitment to delivering a better future for boxers and everyone associated with our sport.

“We are continuing to receive applications from National Federations across the world that want to be part of World Boxing, and I urge all boxing leaders that want to ensure their boxers have the opportunity to compete at a future Olympic Games to do the same and apply to join World Boxing.”

A full list of the 78 National Federations that are members of World Boxing can be viewed HERE.

World Boxing was launched in April 2023 and is committed to ensuring that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic movement.

On 7 May 2024, it held its first formal meeting with the IOC which signalled the start of collaboration aimed at establishing a pathway for boxing to remain in the Olympic Games.

On 26 September 2024, World Boxing announced that it had set-up an Olympic Commission, chaired by the President of the National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan, Gennadiy Golovkin, to support and assist the process of developing a pathway to ensuring that boxing is restored to the Games.

World Boxing is to hold an Extraordinary Congress on 1 March 2025 to enable members to formally approve a series of new applications from boxing National Federations that want to join the International Federation.

The Extraordinary Congress will be held virtually and overseen by independent, third-party assessors.

The 55 National Federations that were confirmed as members of World Boxing by the end of its most recent Congress (3 November 2024) will be eligible to participate in the Extraordinary Congress and vote on the new membership applications that have been received since then. 

At present, an additional 17 National Federations have had their membership applications approved by the Executive Board of World Boxing since the Congress in November 2024, however this number is expected to rise by the time of the Extraordinary Congress on 1 March 2025.

The decision to hold an Extraordinary Congress reflects the status of Congress as the highest decision-making body of World Boxing and aims to ensure that all membership applications have been approved by Congress as well as the Executive Board in advance of the forthcoming IOC Session (19-21 March 2025).

Boris van der Vorst, the President of World Boxing, said: “World Boxing is committed to upholding the highest standards of governance and transparency so the Executive Board has decided to hold this Extraordinary Congress to ensure that there is no ambiguity about the number of National Federations that are confirmed members of World Boxing, when the IOC comes to meet at its next Session in March. 

“Congress is the highest authority of World Boxing and by ensuring that every application has been assessed and voted on by Congress, we can be unequivocally clear about the precise size and composition of our membership.”

World Boxing was launched in April 2023 and is committed to ensuring that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic movement.

On 7 May 2024, it held its first formal meeting with the IOC which signalled the start of collaboration aimed at establishing a pathway for boxing to remain in the Olympic Games.

On 26 September 2024, World Boxing announced that it had set-up an Olympic Commission, chaired by the President of the National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan, Gennadiy Golovkin, to support and assist the process of developing a pathway to ensuring that boxing is restored to the Games.

The Executive Board of World Boxing has approved membership applications from the National Federations for boxing in Egypt, Gambia, Kiribati and Grenada, to take its membership to 72 countries.

The addition of Egypt and Gambia grows World Boxing’s footprint in Africa. The approval of Kiribati’s application means it now has seven members in Oceania.

All of the new 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 approval of four more applications is a sign of the continued progress of World Boxing and the widespread desire for change that exists across the sport.

“It is clear that the only way that boxing will continue to be part of the Olympic Movement is for National Federations to support World Boxing and it is good to see that boxing leaders from all parts of the world recognise this and are applying to join us.

“We are continuing to process applications from National Federations across the world I urge all boxing leaders that want to ensure their boxers to have the opportunity to compete at a future Olympic Games to seek to be part of World Boxing.”

A full list of the 72 National Federations that are members of World Boxing can be viewed HERE.

World Boxing was launched in April 2023 and is committed to ensuring that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic movement.

On 7 May 2024, it held its first formal meeting with the IOC which signalled the start of collaboration aimed at establishing a pathway for boxing to remain in the Olympic Games.

On 26 September 2024, World Boxing announced that it had set-up an Olympic Commission, chaired by the President of the National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan, Gennadiy Golovkin, to support and assist the process of developing a pathway to ensuring that boxing is restored to the Games.

World Boxing has approved applications from eight more National Federations to take its membership to 68 countries.

The new applications, which have been approved by the Executive Board of World Boxing, are from the National Federations for boxing in France, Croatia, Poland, Iran, Malaysia, Nepal, Turkmenistan and Samoa, which is represented by Independent Boxing Samoa.

All eight of the new 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: “To add eight more National Federations to our ever-increasing membership is another significant step for World Boxing and further evidence of the widespread support, across the sport, for our work to ensure boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic Movement.

“It is clear that the only way that boxing will be on the programme for LA2028 is for National Federations to support World Boxing and I invite all boxing leaders that care about the future of the sport and their boxers to apply for membership of our oragnisation as we continue to grow and go from strength to strength.”

A full list of the 68 National Federations that are members of World Boxing can be viewed HERE.

World Boxing was launched in April 2023 and is committed to ensuring that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic movement.

On 7 May 2024, it held its first formal meeting with the IOC which signalled the start of collaboration aimed at establishing a pathway for boxing to remain in the Olympic Games.

On 26 September 2024, World Boxing announced that it had set-up an Olympic Commission, chaired by the President of the National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan, Gennadiy Golovkin, to support and assist the process of developing a pathway to ensuring that boxing is restored to the Games.

The World Boxing Cup Finals and the World Boxing Congress in 2025 will be held in New Delhi, India in November 2025.

The decision underscores India’s growing prominence on the global boxing stage and reaffirms its capability to host world-class sporting events.

The World Boxing Cup Final 2025 will be the culmination of the World Boxing Cup series in 2025 and will be preceded by three ranking events which are scheduled to take place in Brazil, Kazakhstan and Germany.   

The competition will take place at the same time as the World Boxing Congress 2025 which will host stakeholders, officials, and dignitaries from the global boxing community. The Congress will include elections for the Presidency and Executive Board and serve as a platform to discuss critical developments, strategies, and the future roadmap for the sport.

The President of the Boxing Federation of India, Mr. Ajay Singh, said: “”It is a proud moment for India to be recognized by World Boxing for hosting such prestigious events. This opportunity not only highlights India’s organizational excellence but also underscores our unwavering commitment to ensuring boxing remains an integral part of the Olympic movement. We are honoured to contribute to the sport’s legacy and look forward to welcoming the global boxing community to India in 2025.”

The President of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst, added: “I am delighted to announce that India has been awarded the hosting rights for the World Boxing Cup Final and the World Boxing Congress, both scheduled for November 2025.  India is an important leader in the world of boxing and has consistently demonstrated its passion for the sport and its ability to organise successful international events.

“With a proven track record, including hosting global championships, India is a deserving host for these, our most prestigious events. I want to thank India and especially the President of the Boxing Federation of India, Ajay Singh, for his leadership in World Boxing and helping ensure that Boxing remains a part of the Olympics in Los Angeles 2028.

“We are confident that India will deliver an exceptional experience for athletes, officials and fans alike, demonstrating global appeal of boxing. We look forward to an unforgettable celebration of boxing in 2025”.

India’s bid to host these events is expected to inspire aspiring athletes, attract global attention to Indian boxing, and strengthen India’s in the international boxing arena.

The Boxing Federation of India is fully committed to delivering a memorable and impactful experience for athletes, officials, and fans worldwide. Preparations are underway to ensure that the two events set new benchmarks for excellence in hosting international sporting events within the country.

World Boxing has reached the milestone of 60 members after the applications to join from the National Federations for boxing in Cambodia, Dominican Republic, Jordan, Myanmar and Palestine were approved at the most recent meeting of its Executive Board (12 December 2024).

The five new members 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, are able to demonstrate: a transparent and open election process; the existence and operation of WADA-recognised anti-doping polices and processes; a structured, dispute resolution and appeals process; a solid national and international boxing sports programme; and formal recognition by either their National Olympic Committee (NOC) or Ministry for Sport

The meeting of World Boxing’s Executive Board also confirmed a series of decisions relating to its competition calendar which included:

• To progress negotiations with the National Federations of Brazil, Germany, Kazakhstan and India to host World Boxing Cup events in 2025. The plan is to hold the first World Boxing Cup of the year in Brazil in March 2025, followed by competitions in Germany, Kazakhstan and India. Dates and venues will be confirmed in January 2025
• The final World Boxing Cup of the year in New Delhi, India, in November 2025 will also host the third World Boxing Congress, which will include elections for the Presidency and Executive Board
• Following a bidding process, Astana in Kazakhstan was selected as the location for the 2027 Elite World Boxing Championships for men and women

Full details of World Boxing’s competition calendar for 2025 will be published once it has been approved by the Sport and Competition Committee.

The President of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst, said: “World Boxing has achieved an enormous amount in the last 12 months and to approach the end of the year with 60 members is a fantastic achievement and conclusive evidence of the widespread desire for change that exists in international boxing.

“The decision of so many National Federations to join World Boxing is a sign of the critical importance of remaining part of the Olympic Movement to the future health and stability of our sport and a recognition that this can only be achieved by countries joining and supporting World Boxing.

“After the huge success of our first World Boxing Cup series in 2024, it is fantastic that we have four such strong bids to host the competition in 2025 and I would like to thank the National Federations of Brazil, Germany, Kazakhstan and India for their ongoing support and commitment.

“It is great news that we have been able to confirm Astana in Kazakhstan as the host of our second Elite World Boxing Championships in 2027 after next year’s first edition which will take place in Liverpool, England in September 2025. I would like to thank the Kazakhstan Boxing Federation for its commitment to World Boxing in agreeing to host both a World Boxing Cup and a World Boxing Championships over the next three years.

“I am also very grateful to the Boxing Federation of India for its ongoing support in bidding to host both a World Boxing Cup and our next Congress in 2025 in New Delhi.

“That we are able to put these dates in place and continue to build our competition calendar is a sign of the increased stability that World Boxing is bringing to the sport for our members and augurs very well for the future.

“The momentum is building and I look forward to announcing more members in the near future as we are continuing to process applications from more countries who want to be part of World Boxing and support our mission to ensure that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic Movement.”

Gennadiy Golovkin, President of the Kazakhstan National Olympic Committee and Chair of World Boxing’s Olympic Commission, added: “It is a great honour and responsibility for Kazakhstan to host the 2027 World Boxing Championship, which will take place in the pre-Olympic cycle. Our country has successful experience in hosting large-scale world sports competitions at the highest level, and I am confident that this tournament will be no exception. Understanding the importance of this World Championship on the eve of the Olympics in Los Angeles, I thank World Boxing for the trust placed in us.”

World Boxing was launched in April 2023. 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.

On 26 September 2024, World Boxing announced that it had set-up an Olympic Commission, chaired by President of the National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan, to support and assist the process of developing a pathway to ensuring that boxing is restored Games.