NEWS

World Boxing has agreed a strategic partnership with the sports technology and event management company, Xempower, to become its Preferred Official Technology Service Provider.

The agreement will see Xempower provide a range of technology and digital infrastructure solutions to support competition delivery and enhance data management that is designed to modernise event governance and enhance sporting integrity.

Under the terms of the partnership, Xempower will deploy a fully integrated digital infrastructure suite to support World Boxing’s competition management.

It will include:

• An automated Timing, Scoring and Event Operation Management System (EOMS) to manage registrations and brackets
• A centralised World Boxing Management System (WBMS) Registration System and database for National Federations
• A randomised, auditable Technical Official Draw and Dispatch System to ensure absolute impartiality
• A recently developed Official Website Platform to enhance global communication

As part of the agreement Xempower will look to explore opportunities for the development and deployment of tools, powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) to assist the training of officials and the development of scoring solutions.

The partnership is a significant milestone in the ongoing development of World Boxing and reflects the commitment of its President, Gennadiy Golovkin, to delivering sporting integrity and ensuring competitive fairness.

The agreement follows a series of recent collaborations between World Boxing and Xempower at major competitions, including the ‘World Boxing Cup: Brazil 2026’ in April of this year, which have contributed to the development of a strategic partnership that is focused on the creation of a digital platform that will enhance sporting integrity.

World Boxing’s Secretary General, Tom Dielen, said: “The credibility of boxing is built on fairness and transparency. The digital and event management platforms provided by Xempower allow us to introduce higher levels of data support and procedural integrity while respecting the final authority of our technical officials within the existing frameworks and principles of Olympic boxing. This is a solid step forward in our event governance framework.”

The founder of Xempower, Thomas Cai, added: “”Fairness, impartiality, and transparency are the foundations of competitive sport and the guiding principles behind Xempower’s technological development. We believe that technology should serve the integrity of sport, helping every contest reflect the true performance of the athletes.”

World Boxing has linked-up with the sports streaming and fan engagement platform, Joymo, to create a dedicated digital destination for live events, on-demand content, highlights and competition coverage, World Boxing TV.

World Boxing TV will provide a direct, subscription based channel to connect fans with World Boxing’s schedule of competitons, provide a platform for boxers and increase the global visibility of Olympic-style boxing.

Built on the award winning Joymo platform, World Boxing TV brings together live event coverage, exclusive content and on-demand programming in a single destination, creating a richer and more accessible experience for boxing audiences around the world.

The first competiton being shown on the platform is ‘World Boxing Cup: China 2026 – Guiyang City’ which ends on 21 June 2026. Full details of the draw, schedule and all results are available HERE.

Fans can watch the final stages of the competiton by signing up now at https://worldboxing.tv/home.

The Secretary General of World Boxing, Tom Dielen, said: The launch of World Boxing TV marks an important milestone in the development of World Boxing and the continued growth of our sport as it provides an opportunity for fans to actively engage with our schedule of competitons and creates a platform for boxers to showcase their skills, connect with viewers and grow their own fanbases.

“World Boxing TV will provide a dedicated global platform for our athletes, events and member National Federations that will bring fans closer to the sport while strengthening our ability to tell the stories that are shaping the future of Olympic boxing.”

Joymo’s Chief Executive, Mike Emery, added: “World Boxing is helping define the future of boxing, and we’re proud to provide the technology powering that journey.”

“World Boxing TV embodies everything Joymo was built for. Sports organisations today need more than a streaming service – they need a solution that gives them ownership of their content, direct access to their audiences, meaningful fan data and the ability to build sustainable digital revenue streams. This partnership delivers exactly that.”

“By launching World Boxing TV, World Boxing has created a powerful digital asset that will help grow the sport globally, strengthen engagement with fans and create long-term value for athletes, federations and stakeholders across the boxing ecosystem.”

The partnership represents a significant investment in World Boxing’s digital future that will enable the organisation to take greater control of its content distribution, audience relationships and commercial opportunities. Through the platform, World Boxing will be able to engage directly with fans, generate valuable audience insights and develop sustainable new revenue streams to support the continued growth of Olympic boxing.

The launch further strengthens Joymo’s position as a leading technology partner for governing bodies, leagues and rights holders seeking to build their own direct-to-consumer streaming services. Through its end-to-end platform, Joymo enables sports organisations to distribute content directly to audiences, retain ownership of audience data and commercial inventory, and create new opportunities for fan engagement and monetisation.

Guiyang, China, 17 June 2026 – World Boxing and Refract Technologies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a framework for collaboration aimed at exploring the future development of Virtual Boxing and immersive sports technologies.

The MoU was signed during the World Boxing Cup in Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China, marking an important milestone in World Boxing’s efforts to embrace innovation and create new opportunities for the growth and accessibility of the sport.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by World Boxing President Gennadiy Golovkin and Mr. Chong Geng Ng, Executive Director of Refract Technologies. The signing ceremony was attended by Mr. Gerald Lee, COO of Refract Technologies, and Tom Dielen, Secretary General of World Boxing.

The collaboration builds-on discussions held between World Boxing and Refract Technologies regarding the development of Virtual Boxing and the application of immersive technologies within boxing.  

The exploration of Virtual Boxing and emerging digital formats has been one of the strategic priorities outlined by Golovkin since his campaign for the presidency of World Boxing. The signing of this MoU represents an important step towards the gradual implementation of that vision and aligns with the wider Olympic Movement’s focus on innovation, digital engagement and ensuring sport remains relevant and accessible to future generations.

Under the MoU World Boxing and Refract Technologies will explore the co-development of a virtual reality boxing title designed to promote and grow the sport globally while assessing its potential as a future competitive discipline within the Olympic E-sports Games ecosystem. The collaboration will also include athlete testing and validation programmes, product development initiatives and joint promotional activities aimed at creating innovative experiences for athletes, fans and new audiences worldwide.

Refract Technologies is a leading developer of immersive technology solutions, including AXIS, an advanced full-body motion capture system that enables users to compete and interact in virtual environments with a high degree of realism and precision.

The President of World Boxing, Gennadiy Golovkin, said: “Boxing is one of the world’s greatest sports, but like all sports, it must continue to evolve. Virtual Boxing gives us an opportunity to connect with new audiences, engage younger generations and create new pathways into our sport.

“Through this collaboration with Refract Technologies, we can explore how innovation and technology can help make boxing more accessible, more engaging and more relevant for the future while staying true to the values that define our sport.”

Mr. Chong Geng Ng, Executive Director of Refract Technologies, added: “Refract is honoured to partner with World Boxing on a shared vision of bringing boxing to more people than ever before.

“Virtual Boxing offers something entirely its own; a game that calls for a different kind of thinking, a different strategy, and a different competitor. From kids sparring against their heroes for the first time, to retired champions finding a new arena — Virtual Boxing is for every stage of the boxing journey.

“Boxing belongs to everyone. This partnership with World Boxing is our commitment to making that real.”

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to innovation, athlete development and the exploration of new opportunities at the intersection of sport and technology. As the sporting world continues to embrace digital transformation and new forms of engagement, World Boxing and Refract Technologies will work together to explore how Virtual Boxing can contribute to the future growth, accessibility and global appeal of the sport by helping to build a community of boxers regardless of age, location and skill set.

The development of Virtual Boxing also has the potential to bring new people into the sport that can experience the physical and mental health benefits of boxing, whilst also providing an outlet for older, experienced or retired boxers to continue to participate in the sport and benefit from new experiences where they have to train a different mindset and develop new strategies.

Further details regarding joint initiatives and pilot projects will be announced in due course. 

World Boxing President Gennadiy Golovkin has been inducted into the prestigious International Boxing Hall of Fame, becoming the first athlete from Kazakhstan to receive one of the highest honours in the sport.

Golovkin was officially welcomed into the Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York, on Sunday as part of the Class of 2026 in his first year of eligibility, recognising a remarkable career that saw him establish himself as one of the greatest middleweight boxers of his generation.

An Olympic silver medallist at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, Golovkin compiled a professional record of 42 wins, two defeats and one draw, with 37 victories coming by knockout. He made a record-tying 20 consecutive middleweight world title defences, matching the benchmark set by Hall of Famer Bernard Hopkins, and held world titles with the WBA, WBC, IBF and IBO.

For World Boxing, Golovkin’s induction is a powerful reminder of the opportunities created by a strong Olympic pathway.

Tom Dielen, Secretary General of World Boxing, said: “Gennadiy Golovkin’s career is a testament to what the Olympic pathway produces at its best. He came through the amateur ranks, stood on the Olympic podium, and went on to demonstrate to the world what boxing excellence truly looks like. That journey, from a young boxer in Kazakhstan to a Hall of Fame honouree, is exactly the story we want every athlete in our system to believe is possible.”

Golovkin’s dominance at middleweight between 2010 and 2018 set new standards for consistency and excellence. His achievements continue to inspire athletes and national federations around the world and demonstrate the long-term value of investing in boxer development from grassroots participation through to elite performance.

The honour comes less than a year after Golovkin assumed the presidency of World Boxing, where he is helping to lead the sport into a new era and support its return to the Olympic programme at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Addressing the audience following the induction ceremony, Golovkin reflected on the significance of the moment and the responsibility that comes with his current role.

Gennadiy Golovkin, President of World Boxing, said: “The International Boxing Hall of Fame represents the highest recognition our sport can bestow, and I am deeply honoured to join the athletes whose careers have shaped boxing’s history.

“This moment belongs not only to me but to everyone who has been part of my journey, from my first days in the amateur system to the Olympic Games and beyond.

“As President of World Boxing, I carry that experience into the work ahead, ensuring that every boxer today has access to a fair, transparent and ambitious sport that gives them the platform their dedication deserves. Los Angeles 2028 and beyond is our goal and our responsibility, and we will meet it.”

Golovkin’s induction celebrates not only an extraordinary sporting career, but also the enduring connection between Olympic boxing and professional success: a pathway that World Boxing is committed to protecting and strengthening for future generations.