Press Release

World Boxing appoints Professor Jack Anderson as first Ethics Chief

World Boxing, the new international federation established to ensure boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic Movement, has appointed Professor Jack Anderson, as its first Ethics Chief.

Anderson has more than 25 years’ experience in legal practice and sports arbitration.  He is currently the legal counsel in integrity regulation at Racing Victoria, where he is on extended leave (2022-2025) from Melbourne Law School, having served as its Professor and Director of Sports Law Studies since 2017.

As World Boxing’s Ethics Chief, Anderson will advise on issues and disagreements related to governance and operations; review policies and programmes to ensure they are consistent with World Boxing’s ethics and values; respond to complaints and enquiries of an ethical nature; bring forward issues of ethical importance to the Executive Board and Secretary General; and ensure World Boxing’s operational activities are ethical, fair and transparent.

In this independent position, he will be the first point of contact for all issues and determine, in the first instance, if a complaint is required to be elevated to the approved World Boxing independent third-party organisation for further action or can be dealt with reasonably and fairly within the existing governance remit of the organisation.   The full Terms of Reference for the role of World Boxing’s Ethics Chief can be viewed HERE. 

Anderson was nominated for the role by an independent three-person panel and his appointment was ratified by the Executive Board of World Boxing. His initial appointment runs until the end of 2023 when he will have the opportunity to be re-appointed by the new Executive Board that will be elected at World Boxing’s inaugural Congress in November 2023.

World Boxing’s Secretary General, Simon Toulson, said: “Strong governance, ethical practices and independent, third-party oversight are central to everything that World Boxing stands for as an international federation and the role of the Ethics Chief is a vital part of making sure that these philosophies are ingrained into the day-to-day operations of the organisation.

“Jack has an outstanding track record in sports legal practice and we have no doubt that he will play an important role in enabling World Boxing to deliver the high standards of governance, transparency and ethical practice that we believe all international federations should aspire to.”

Jack Anderson added: “I am impressed by World Boxing’s commitment to transparency, integrity and strong governance and look forward to working with them. A sport with clear and sound ethical values, and the courage to pursue those who do not respect such standards, best protects its athletes. It also promotes greater confidence in the image and integrity of that sport helping it reach new audiences and secure its future.”   

Born in Ireland, Anderson lectured at the Queen’s University Belfast for 13 years before taking up the role of Professor and Director of Sports Law Studies at the University of Melbourne in 2017.

His primary research interest is the relationship between sport and the law. Professor Anderson has published widely in sports law including books such as The Legality of Boxing (Routledge, 2007) and, most recently, Sports Law: A Concise Introduction (Edward Elgar, 2023).

He is a member of the International Hockey Federation’s (FIH) Integrity Unit; the International Tennis Federation’s (ITF) Ethics Commission; and a subject expert on the Asia Racing Federation’s Council on Anti-Illegal Betting and Related Financial Crime.

Formerly an arbitrator on the Court of Arbitration for Sport, he now sits on World Athletics’ Disciplinary Tribunal, Football Australia’s NDRC and the National Sports Tribunal of Australia.

World Boxing was launched in April 2023 and aims to ensure that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic movement.  It will seek recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and plans to work constructively and collaboratively to develop a pathway that will preserve boxing’s ongoing place on the Olympic competition programme. 

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

World Boxing announces first six members

USA Boxing, New Zealand Boxing, Boxing Australia, GB Boxing, England Boxing and the Dutch Boxing Federation have been confirmed as the first six official members of World Boxing, the new international federation, established to keep boxing at the heart of the Olympic Movement and support the growth and development of the sport at local, regional, national and international levels.

All six countries have completed a rigorous application process and been approved as members by the Executive Board of World Boxing. 

The application process for National Federations to become members of World Boxing is overseen by the Secretary General, Simon Toulson, and designed to ensure that all applicants are deemed to be in good standing and, through their statutes and operating processes, are able to demonstrate:

  • A transparent and open election process for the appointment of office bearing roles
  • The existence and operation of WADA-recognsied 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

As each country’s recognised National Federation for the sport, USA Boxing, New Zealand Boxing, Boxing Australia, England Boxing and the Dutch Boxing Federation have been granted full membership status.  GB Boxing has been granted Associate Membership as it is reponsible for managing Great Britain’s elite, World Class Programme (WCP) and taking the team to tournaments, such as the European Games and the Olympic Games, where boxers from England, Scotland and Wales compete as Great Britain.

All six members will attend World Boxing’s inaugural Congress in November 2023 and have the opportunity to nominate candidates for offices within the new international federation including the Presidency and Executive Committee and membership of Committees and Commissions.  The five full members will have voting rights at the Congress.

The President of USA Boxing and a member of World Boxing’s Interim Executive Board, Tyson Lee, said:  “It is very pleasing to see that the first cohort of World Boxing members includes National Federations from three continents as it is vital that World Boxing is a truly global endeavour with nations from across the world playing a role in contributing to the creation of a better future for the sport and everyone connected to it, based on collaboration, consultation and consensus.

“We look forward to working with World Boxing and all current and future members to create a global sporting structure that puts the interest of boxers first and operates with rigorous governance practices designed to deliver fairness and sporting integrity.”

World Boxing’s Secretary General, Simon Toulson, explained: “Transparency and rigorous governance is central to the way we operate as an organisation and all of the new members have been through a detailed and meticulous process to secure membership.

“We are currently processing a number of applications, which can be time consuming and take several weeks, so it is important that all National Federations who want to nominate candidates and vote in World Boxing’s inaugural Congress in November 2023 make their membership applications soon or they may miss the deadline for being able to participate in this event.” 

World Boxing will be writing to all National Federations this week (w/c 7 August 2023) to invite them to apply and nominate candidates for the office bearing positions of World Boxing by 25 August 2023. 

All nominations will be vetted by an independent third-party and the final list of approved candidates will be published in October 2023 – 30 days before the inaugural Congress.  To be eligible to stand for election, all candidates must represent a National Federation or organisation that is a member of World Boxing.

World Boxing was launched in April 2023 and aims to ensure that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic movement.  It will seek recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and plans to work constructively and collaboratively to develop a pathway that will preserve boxing’s ongoing place on the Olympic competition programme at Los Angeles 2028 and beyond. 

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

Report

Two-time Olympic medallist and boxing pioneer Nouchka Fontijn backs World Boxing to ensure the sport remains at the heart of the Olympic Movement

Two-time Olympic medallist, Nouchka Fontijn, has pledged her support for World Boxing and its aim of ensuring boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic Movement.

One of the leading pioneers in driving the growth of women’s boxing globally, Fontijn won middleweight (75kg) silver for the Netherlands at Rio 2016 and followed this with a bronze at Tokyo 2020.  Her final against the USA’s Claressa Shields in Rio remains one of the most watched women’s boxing bouts of all-time.

In a highly decorated career, Fontijn also won four world championship medals (2014, 2016, 2018 and 2019) and three European championship medals which included golds at in Bucharest in 2014 and Sofia in 2018.  She also took gold at the 2015 European Games in Baku and silver at the 2019 event in Minsk.

Fontijn’s support for World Boxing reflects her recognition of the importance of the sport remaining in the Olympic Games and a desire for greater sporting integrity in the refereeing and judging of contests.

Fontijn said: “The IOC’s inclusion of women’s boxing into the Olympic program has done so much for women’s boxing development. 

“Millions of girls around the world have been inspired to step into the ring and already at the 2016 Rio Olympics the bout between Claressa Shields and myself was the most watched boxing match of that competition.

“Remaining a part of the Olympics is a great privilege that boxing administrators have to cherish by preserving competition integrity and ensuring fair bout decisions.

“I look forward to a new chapter in boxing history, free of corruption and controversy that has plagued our sport for so long.”

Fontijn’s support for World Boxing echoes that of her great rival, Lauren Price of Wales and Team GB, who is an Athlete Representative on the Interim Executive Board of World Boxing.

Prior to Fontijn’s retirement, following a narrow loss to Price in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic semi-final, the pair enjoyed a fierce rivalry as the two most dominant boxers in the women’s middleweight division between 2017 and 2021.

Fontijn defeated Price in the semi-finals of the 2018 world championships in New Delhi and European championships of the same year.  The Welsh women gained revenge with victories in the finals of the 2019 European Games in Minsk and that year’s world championship final in Ulan-Ude.

2020 Olympic middleweight champion, Lauren Price, added: “Nouchka was one of the toughest opponents I ever faced.  We were rivals but we had great respect for each other. 

“She was a great competitor and a real role model for women’s boxing.  Like me, she knows how important it is that boxing remains part of the Olympic Games and it is no surprise to see that she is backing World Boxing.”

Press Release

USA Boxing Women’s Championships in Ohio to be delivered in association with World Boxing

The inaugural USA Women’s Boxing Championships in Toldeo, Ohio, 22-29 July 2023, will be delivered in association with World Boxing.

The eight-day invitational event is open to novice (beginner) and open (experienced) boxers of all ages from pee wee (aged 8-10) to masters (35 and over) and aims to create opportunities for women of all ages and abilities to compete.

More than 200 boxers from eight National Federations across four continents are currently registered to take part.

The President of USA Boxing and a member of World Boxing’s Interim Executive Board, Tyson Lee, said: “USA Boxing is extremely proud to be able to host this event in assocaition with World Boxing.  The Championships aim to celebrate women and create valuable competition opportunities for female boxers of all standards and ages. 

“Working with USA Boxing to deliver this event is a sign of World Boxing’s support for boxers at every level, from the grassroots to the elite, and its commitment to creating competitive opportunities that will enable all boxers to flourish.”

World Boxing was launched in April 2023.  It will hold its inaugural Congress in November and plans to publish details of its competition strategy, tournament calendar and the bidding process for staging events in the latter part of 2023.

NEWS

Fifty-two boxers from 19 nations will compete in today’s semi-finals at the European Games 2023 with eight places at Paris 2024 Olympic still on offer

FIFTY-two boxers from 19 nations will take part in today’s semi-finals at the European Games 2023 in Krakow.

All 52 boxers are guaranteed at least a bronze medal from the European Games and 36 of those competing have already secured a place at next year’s Olympic Games.  

The remaining 16 boxers will compete for eight places at Paris 2024 in four weight categories where only two qualification places at the European Games are on offer: women’s middleweight (75kg); men’s flyweight (51kg) men’s heavyweight (92kg) and men’s super-heavyweight (92kg+).

The 36 boxers that have secured a place at Paris 2024 come from 17 nations.  France and Turkey have the most places with five.  Bulgaria, Ireland and Italy have three, while Belgium, Great Britain, Hungary, Serbia and Spain currently have two boxers bound for Paris.  Azerbaijan, Croatia, Denmark, Georgia, Romania, Sweden and Ukraine each have one boxer guaranteed a place at next year’s Olympics.

The 16 boxers that will compete for the final eight Olympic slots today include two from France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy and Poland.  Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Spain and Turkey each have one boxer looking to add to their number of Olympic places when the action gets underway.

The draw and all results at the European Games 2023 can be viewed at  – https://results.european-games.org/EG2023/ENG/schedule/BOX/2023-06-24/all-event

All of the action across two sessions of boxing can be viewed live from 1300 and 1800 (CET) here – https://europeangames.tv/sports/boxing

Keep up with World Boxing news, results, photos, and videos through the official Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages:

PRESS RELEASE

36 boxers from 17 countries qualify for Paris 2024 Olympic Games on busy day of quarter-final action at European Games 2023

An action-packed day of boxing at the 2023 European Games in Krakow saw 36 men and women secure Olympic qualification as boxers from Turkey, France, Ireland, Great Britain, Italy, Spain, Hungary, Sweden, Belgium, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Croatia, Serbia, Denmark, Romania, Azerbaijan and Georgia all earned places for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. 

Reigning Olympic champions, Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey and Kellie Harrington of Ireland both earned the right to defend their titles in Paris where they will be joined by numerous other women that will be competing at their second or third Olympic Games, including multiple European and world medallists, Irma Testa of Italy and Stanimira Petrova of Bulgaria, along with 2016 Olympic champion, Estelle Mossely of France.

An absorbing men’s contest saw 16 boxers secure a place in Paris including the home nation’s three-time World champion, Sofiane Oumiha, reigning European champion, Vasile Usturoi of Belgium, Georgia’s rising star, Lasha Guruli, and Tokyo 2022 silver medallist, Oleksandr Khyzhniak among many others.

The action will continue on Friday 30 June 2023 when 8 more boxers will have the chance to secure Olympic qualification.

Petrova and Davison are first boxers to qualify for Paris

The day began with the women’s 54kg bantamweight category where Bulgaria’s Stanimira Petrova was looking to secure Olympic qualification for the third time.  The Bulgarian used her technical skills to control the first round against Ireland’s Jennifer Lehane who replaced the European U22 Champion Niamh Fay in the team. Lehane attacked more in the second round but the 33-year-old Bulgarian proved too strong as she was awarded a unanimous victory on judges’ scorecards. 

In the other 54kg contest, Great Britain’s Charley Davison dominated her quarter-final over Sweden’s Zehra Milli to secure a place at her second Olympic Games. 

Previous Olympic champions progress at 60kg 

In the women’s 60kg category, Ireland’s Kellie Harrington and Sweden’s Agnes Alexiusson knew each other well enough from previous competitions but the Irish superstar has won all of their encounters. The Swedish No.1 was quick in the early exchanges but the reigning Olympic champion from Ireland delivered a strong third round to win the contest by split decision.

In the other 60kg contests the 2016 Olympic champion, Estelle Mossely defeated Kosovo’s World Championship bronze medallist Donjeta Sadiku to qualify for Paris while Gizen Ozer of Turkey and Serbia’s Natalia Shadrina also secured victories.

Eccles and Hamori were motivated at the women’s welterweight 

In the 66kg category, Great Britain’s Commonwealth Games winner Rosie Eccles defeated Ireland’s World and European Champion, Amy Broadhurst, in a hard-fought contest while Hungary’s Luca Hamori, a 22-year-old talent, overcame Luna Beeloo from the Netherlands.

Belgium earned two historic Olympic quotas 

A great day for Belgium saw Oshin Derieuw return from the professional ranks to secure her nation’s first Olympic boxer since 1992 as she beat France’s Emilie Sonvico.  She was joined later in the day by European Champion, Vasile Usturoi, who used his technical skills to overcome Denmark’s Frederik Lundgaard Jensen. 

Guruli and Clancy impressed at the men’s light welterweight

Georgia’s Lasha Guruli has earned medals in all of his major championships in the recent two years and he moved down successfully to light welterweight (63.5kg) before the start of the European Games. The 27-year-old Georgian had the height advantage against Bulgaria’s multiple European Champion Radoslav Rosenov and his longer reach helped him to control the bout on his way to victory.  The other qualifiers in this weight class were Hungary’s Richard Kovacs, Ireland’s Dean Patrick Clancy and France’s three-time World Champion, Sofiane Oumiha.

Khyzhniak had a narrow success and earned a quota at the light heavyweight

Ukraine’s Olympic Games silver medallist Oleksandr Khyzhniak made his debut at the light heavyweight (80kg) this year and arrived in Poland as one of the favourites. The powerful Ukrainian did not disappoint as he defeated Ireland’s Kelyn Cassidy.  In the other light-heavyweight contests, Croatia’s Gabrijel Veocic defeated Estonia’s last remaining boxer, Stiven Aas to secure a place in Paris.  The pair will be joined in Paris by Azerbaijan’s Murad Allahverdiyev and Salvatore Cavallaro of Italy.

The Turkish girls shined in the sixth day of boxing

Turkey has been one of the best performing nation’s so far at the European Games and its boxers continued to perform well.  In the women’s 60kg category, Gizem Ozer, became their first boxer to qualify as she defeated Ukraine’s Hanna Okhrei.  She was followed shortly afterwards by Turkey’s reigning Olympic Champion, Busenaz Surmeneli, in the welterweight (66kg) division.  In the 50kg category she was joined by Olympic silver medallist Busenaz Cakiroglu who demonstrated her brilliant technique against Poland’s Natalia Rok in the battle of the southpaw boxers. World Champion, Hatice Akbas topped a fine day for Tukey’s women as she secured a place in Paris with a win over Italy’s Sirine Charaabi at bantamweight (54kg). 

Laura Fuertes and Jose Quiles are Spain’s Paris Olympians 

A good day for Spain saw its boxers build on recent successes.  At bantamweight, 2022 World medallist, Laura Fuertes, defeated Portugal’s Rita Soares.  In the men’s featherweight division, Jose Quiles, secured revenge over Georgia’s, Artyush Gomtsyan, to earn a place in Paris and avenge his loss from the final of the 2022 European Boxing Championships.

The Italian aces will return to the Olympic Games

After securing a place in Tokyo at the age of 20, Italy’s Giordana Sorrentino has matured into one of the best boxers in the women’s light-flyweight division and secured her place as a second Olympic Games with a win over Nina Radovanovic of Serbia.   She will be joined in Paris by Tokyo silver medallist and reigning European champion, Irma Testa, who defeated Spain’s Jennifer Fernandez in a one-sided featherweight (57kg) contest.

Nebil Ibrahim and Nikolai Terteryan are the Nordic heroes of the day

On a day which saw boxers from 17 countries secure places at the 2024 Olympic Games there was also success for the Nordic countries as Sweden’s Nebil Ibrahim overcame Hungary’s European Championships bronze medallist, Roland Veres, in the featherweight division and Denmark’s Nikolai Terteryan defeated Albania’s, Alban Beqiri, to qualify at light-middleweight (71kg).

The quotes of the day

“I am so excited after today’s success, I have worked for this moment since my childhood. We analysed my Serbian opponent with my coach, and we prepared with the best strategy. I was able to keep full concentration until the last seconds against such a talented opponent. My little son motivated me so much, he watched the bout at home and I was planning to make him proud.”

Richard Kovacs, Hungary, light welterweight (63.5kg)

“I am really happy with this contest, it was a really good quarter-final with my Turkish opponent. He is very tough but we selected the right tactics with my coaches today and I can box for the Olympic quota against Poland’s Bereznicki. I will be more aggressive than ever because I want the Olympic place for Paris at all costs.”

Aziz Abbes Mouhiidine, Italy, heavyweight (92kg) 

The draw and all results at the European Games 2023 can be viewed at  – https://results.european-games.org/EG2023/ENG/schedule/BOX/2023-06-24/all-event

All actions can be viewed live here – https://europeangames.tv/sports/boxing

Keep up with World Boxing news, results, photos, and videos through the official Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages:

FB: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialWorldBoxing

TW: https://twitter.com/RealWorldBoxing

IG: https://www.instagram.com/officialworldboxing/

PRESS RELEASE

Statement from World Boxing following the decision today by the 140th IOC Session to withdraw recogniton of IBA. 

“We welcome the announcement by the 140th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session to withdraw recognition of IBA.

“This is a positive development for the sport and we were very pleased to hear the supportive words of the IOC’s President, Thomas Bach when he said: “Because we value the sport of boxing so much, we believe the boxers fully deserve to be governed by an international federation with integrity and transparency.”

“The IOC’s decision and the comments by its President make it clear that IBA will never again be allowed to organise a boxing tournament at the Olympic Games and that a new international federation – which is committed to delivering sporting integrity and operates according to the highest standards of governance, transparency and financial management – will inevitably be required to oversee future Olympic boxing tournaments. 

“World Boxing supports this view and understands that being part of the Olympic Games is a privilege and not a right and is committed to working constructively and collaboratively with the IOC and all other stakeholders to develop a pathway that will preserve boxing’s long-term place on the Olympic programme.

“This is a hugely significant moment for the sport.  All National Boxing Federations now have a critically important decision to make if they want boxers from their country to have the opportunity to compete at the Olympic Games at Los Angeles and beyond and we urge every National Federation that cares about boxers and boxing to join and support World Boxing in its efforts to ensure boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic Movement.”

PRESS RELEASE

World Boxing to increase representation on its Executive Board and establish new Committees to oversee both Sport and Commercial Development 

World Boxing will add two new members to its Interim Executive Board (IEB) and establish both a Technical Sport Committee and a Marketing and Commercial Development Committee, following its most recent board meeting on 15 June 2023.

Thirteen men and women from 11 countries have been invited to join the Technical Sport Committee which includes referees and judges, technical officials, coaches, administrators and people with competition management experience.  Eight members have confirmed they will join the Committee and five others have been invited.  The first meeting will be at the start of July.

The Marketing and Commercial Development Committee is made-up of four men and women with expertise in marketing and branding, sponsorship, sports administration and business development.  The quartet will hold their first meeting in July.

In addition to the creation of the new Committees, it was agreed that two new places will be made available on the IEB of World Boxing.  National Federations have been asked to nominate candidates and the two new members will be announced in July 2023.

The meeting on 15 June 2023 reported that World Boxing is currently processing a series of membership applications from National Federations and has experienced a significant increase in enquiries following the recent announcement by the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to recommend it withdraws recognition of the International Boxing Association (IBA).

Representatives of World Boxing will also be attending the forthcoming European Games in Krakow, 21 June – 3 July 2023, where they will host a series of fringe meetings with National Federations that have expressed an interest in becoming a member of World Boxing.