The final list of candidates that will contest elections at World Boxing’s Congress 2025 in Rome on 23 November has been published (HERE) and includes nine candidates from nine countries.
In line with the processes set-out in World Boxing’s Statutes, Rules for Electoral Voting and Rules for Candidates of Elections (HERE), all of the candidates have been assessed and approved to stand by an Independent Vetting Panel made-up of three independent, external experts and supported by the leading independent provider of sport-specific arbitration and mediation services, Sport Resolutions.
The conclusions of the Independent Vetting Panel, which has reviewed the applications of all the men and women that initially put themselves forward for election in October 2025, means there is now one candidate for the office of President, Gennadiy Golovkin from Kazakhstan.
In accordance with World Boxing’s current Statutes (HERE), which state (Elections: Clause 11.15) “Unanimous acclamation from Congress can be accepted if there is only one candidate for any Office Bearing Position” , it means that Gennadiy Golovkin will become President of World Boxing by acclamation at the Congress on Sunday 23 November 2025 when he will assume the mantle from the incumbent President, Boris van der Vorst.
In addition to the Presidency, the World Boxing Congress will include elections for one position as Vice-President and two places on the Executive Board. As part of the World Boxing’s commitment to transparency and rigorous governance, key papers from the Congress including a full list of candidates and details of their relevant experience and expertise can be viewed (HERE).
World Boxing’s Acting Secretary General Mike McAtee, said: “On behalf of World Boxing I would like to thank the Independent Vetting Panel for its diligent work and ensuring we have a list of candidates that are of the highest calibre, both in terms of their experience and capabilities and also their commitment to upholding the principles of integrity, honesty and excellence on which World Boxing has been founded.
“I have no doubt that every candidate has the potential to make a very positive contribution to the future development of the organisation and can play an important role in the future development of World Boxing and the sport of Olympic boxing.”
Congress is the ultimate authority and supreme decision-making body of World Boxing. The Congress in Rome on 23 November 2025 will be chaired by World Boxing Vice President, Dinah Glykidis, and the elections overseen by an experienced, independent, third-party organisation. Scrutineers will be onsite to validate the veracity of the election processes and ensure candidates are treated in a fair and equitable manner.
World Boxing was launched in April 2023 with a mission to ensure that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic movement. It held its first formal meeting with the IOC in May 2024 and on 25 February 2025, it was granted provisional recognition by the IOC as the International Federation (IF) within the Olympic Movement governing the sport of boxing at world level.
