NEWS

World Boxing Championships draw announced

540 boxers from 66 countries will take part in the inaugural World Boxing Championships when the action gets underway tomorrow, following the completion of the official competition draw this evening (Wednesday 3 September 2025)

The competition will be the biggest ever Olympic-style boxing event held in Great Britain and includes 17 medallists from Paris 2024 and more than 30 boxers that competed at the most recent Olympic Games. It will feature action at 10 weight classes for men and women with 80 medals being handed out, including 20 golds.

Full details of the competition draw are available HERE.

Every session of the World Boxing Championships 2025 will be livestreamed on World Boxing’s website via Eurovision Sport (available in selected territories) at https://worldboxing.org/watch-the-world-boxing-championships/.

From tomorrow, details of the draw, daily schedules, results and additional information can be found on the event’s official website: https://www.worldboxingliverpool.com/

World Boxing will be posting updates throughout the competition on its social media channels:

The full list of national federations competing at the World Boxing Championships 2025 are: Albania, Algeria, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Czechia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, England, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Venezuela and Wales.

More than 540 boxers from 66 National Federations ready to battle it out at inaugural World Boxing Championships in Liverpool

The inaugural World Boxing Championships get underway this week with the world’s best Olympic-style boxers descending on the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England for ten days of boxing action, 4-14 September 2025.

More than 540 men and women from over 66 national federations will compete in the tournament which will the first time ever that the men and women’s version of the world championships has been held as part of the same event.

It will be the biggest ever Olympic-style boxing event held in Great Britain and features 17 medallists from Paris 2024 and more than 30 boxers that competed at that most recent Olympic Games.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has secured a historic agreement with World Boxing to stream the World Boxing Championships 2025 on Eurovision Sport, the EBU’s premier digital platform, bringing the action to audiences worldwide. To see the full list of territories this is available in, click HERE.

80 medals will be on offer, including 20 golds, when the action gets underway on Thursday, across 10 weight classes each for men and women. Full details of the weight categories and the competition schedule are available HERE.

The two gold medallist from Paris are Abdumalik Khalokov of Uzbekistan and Erislandy Alvarez of Cuba.

Khaolokov is part of a powerful Uzbek team that is hoping to build on the success that saw it finish top of the boxing medal table in Paris with five golds. Although he is the only one of those that will be boxing in Liverpool, the team also includes five of the men that topped the podium at this summer’s World Boxing Cup in Poland: Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov (55kg), Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev (65kg), Fazliddin Erkinboev (75kg), Akmaljon Isroiliv (85kg), Jakhongir Zokirov (90kg+).

From a nation that is synonymous with Olympic-style boxing, Alvarez is joined in an eight-man Cuban line-up that features one of the all-time greats in Julio César La Cruz.

Now 35 and boxing at super heavyweight, La Cruz is the most decorated boxer in the competition with two Olympic golds (from Rio and Tokyo) and five golds and one bronze from previous iterations of the world championships. The Championships in Liverpool may be a final hurrah for one of the great boxers of the modern era who is bound to be one of the star attractions.

In the women’s categories, competition looks fierce in the women’s featherweight (57kg) division which will feature Poland’s Paris silver medallist, Julia Szeremeta, and up-and-coming Brazilian, Jucielen Cerqueira Romeu.  Other Paris Olympians that will be hoping to contest the medals in this weight class include the USA’s Alyssa Mendoza and Ireland’s high-experienced two-time Olympian and three-time Commonwealth Games medallist, Michaela Walsh.

At the higher weights, the women’s middleweight (75kg) division offers up the possibility of a clash between Panama’s highly experienced Atheyna Bylon and Norwegian rising star, Sunniva Hofstad.  Bylon won silver in Paris where Hofstad made history by becoming the first Norwegian women in history to box at an Olympic Games.  She has been in terrific form in 2025 with three straight gold medals at World Boxing Cup events in Brazil, Poland and Kazakhstan.

Other Olympic medallists from 2024 that hope to be stepping onto the podium in Liverpool include Türkiye’s Buse Naz Cakiroglu (51kg) and Hatice Akbas (54kg) and Liu Yang (65kg) from China who all won silver in Paris. They are joined by bronze medallists, Nazym Kyzaibay (48kg) of Kazakhstan, South Korea’s Aeji Im (54kg) and Chin Chen (65kg) from Chinese Taipei.

The host nation, England, is fielding a full team of 20 that includes 16 boxers from the GB Boxing Olympic programme.  It includes Paris Olympian, Chantelle Reid at light middleweight (57kg) and two men light-middleweight (70kg) Odel Kamara and middleweight Callum Makin (75kg), who will be hoping to secure big support as they are competing in home city.

All five continents that participate in Olympic-style boxing are represented in Liverpool and African interest comes from Nigeria, which is sending a team of five men and five women that includes Paris Olympian, Adam Olaore.  Born in Lagos, but based in England, Olaore will be hoping to build on the success he enjoyed at the 2024 World Boxing Cup Finals in Sheffield when he made the podium with  a bronze medal at heavyweight (90kg).

The full list of national federations competing at the World Boxing Championships 2025 are: Albania, Algeria, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Czechia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, England, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Venezuela and Wales.

World Boxing President, Boris van der Vorst, said: “Coming six months after the International Olympic Committee confirmed that boxing will be part of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, this is a major milestone for World Boxing and is the first time in history that elite male and female boxers are competing for the title of world champion at the same tournament.

“As a host city, Liverpool is the perfect location. Culturally, Liverpool is famous across the globe, while from a sporting perspective, it is known in every corner of the world.

“Liverpool is also a place with a proud tradition of boxing, with many boxers from the city that have represented Great Britain at the Olympic Games or won titles in the professional ranks.”

Councillor Liam Robinson, Leader, Liverpool City Council, said: “On behalf of the city of Liverpool, it is my great pleasure to welcome athletes, officials, and fans from every corner of our planet to the 2025 World Boxing Championships.

“We will witness incredible talent, determination, and sportsmanship as the best boxers compete for world glory in the stunning setting of the M&S Bank Arena. This famous venue has regularly played host to some of the most memorable boxing nights this country has witnessed.

“Beyond the ring, we invite you to explore everything Liverpool has to offer – from our iconic waterfront and cultural landmarks to our diverse communities and world-class entertainment. This championship is more than a sporting event; it’s a celebration of unity, resilience, and the power of sport to inspire and connect us all.”

The World Boxing Championships 2025 will be livestreamed on World Boxing’s website via Eurovision Sport (available in selected territories) at https://worldboxing.org/watch-the-world-boxing-championships/

Draws, daily schedules, results and additional information can be found on the event’s official website: https://www.worldboxingliverpool.com/

World Boxing will be posting updates throughout the competition on its social media channels:

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/officialworldboxing/
X – https://x.com/RealWorldBoxing
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/OfficialWorldBoxing

Eurovision Sport to stream World Boxing Championships 2025 to fans worldwide

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has secured a historic agreement with World Boxing to stream the World Boxing Championships 2025 on Eurovision Sport, the EBU’s premier digital platform, bringing the action to audiences worldwide.

Taking place in Liverpool from 4–14 September 2025, the event marks the first-ever boxing competition to be shown on Eurovision Sport and represents a further strategic expansion into Olympic sports for the platform.

The partnership will give boxing fans globally* access to live and on-demand coverage of the competition, meeting the growing demand for accessible, flexible sports viewing. EBU Members will also have the opportunity to cover the Championships through highlights, news features, and in some cases live broadcasts.

More than 500 boxers from over 60 countries are expected to compete across 10 weight classes for both men and women. The line-up features 17 medalists from the 2024 Olympic Games – nine women and eight men – and includes Abdumalik Khalokov of Uzbekistan and Erislandy Alvarez of Cuba, who both won gold in Paris.

Additional athletes to watch will include Poland’s Julia Szeremeta and Panama’s Atheyna Bylon, who both claimed silver at Paris 2024. 

They will be joined by one of the all-time greats of Olympic-style boxing, Julio César La Cruz of Cuba. The thirty-five-year-old super heavyweight is a four-time Olympian and the most decorated boxer in the field, with Olympic gold medals in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, along with five golds and one bronze at the World Championships.

The Championships will also make history as the first-time men and women will compete for world titles together in Olympic-style boxing at the same event.

Alan Fagan, Managing Director, Eurovision Sport, said: “Eurovision Sport is proud to deliver global coverage of the World Boxing Championships 2025, giving fans around the world a front-row seat to the action. This event will be the first boxing tournament streamed on Eurovision Sport and the first-time men and women will compete for world titles together in Olympic-style boxing, marking our commitment to gender-balanced sports coverage and broadening our Olympic sports portfolio.”

Simon Toulson, Chief Operating Officer, World Boxing said: “World Boxing is proud to partner with the EBU for the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, England. The enthusiasm, professionalism, and resources provided by Eurovision Sport will give these events significant audience reach and allow us to showcase Olympic-style boxing in a way not seen in recent times. We thank Eurovision Sport and look forward to a successful partnership.”

By combining Eurovision Sport’s growing digital footprint with World Boxing’s governing authority, the partnership sets a new standard for federations seeking to expand reach, drive fan engagement, and support grassroots participation through the visibility of elite competition.

* Territories

Asia

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

Caribbean

Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago

Europe

Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Vatican State

Latin America (LATAM)

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela

Middle East & North Africa (MENA)

Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Yemen

North America

Puerto Rico, USA

Oceania

American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis & Futuna

Sub-Saharan Africa

Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, DR Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, São Tomé & Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Queensberry Promotions partners with World Boxing for inaugural World Boxing Championships 2025 in Liverpool

One of the world’s leading boxing promoters, Queensberry Promotions, has agreed a partnership with World Boxing as part of the inaugural World Boxing Championships 2025, in Liverpool. 4 -14 September 2025.

The decision is a sign of Queensberry’s desire to support the sport at every level from the grassroots amateur scene to the highest echelons of professional boxing. 

Many of the best-known boxers such as Tyson Fury, Daniel Dubois, Joshua Buatsi, Moses Itauma and Nicola Adams, that have been promoted by Queensberry in high profile fights in recent years, enjoyed successful careers in the amateur ranks and this link-up is a sign of its ongoing commitment to every tier of boxing.

“Having such a prestigious tournament as the World Boxing Championships taking place in Liverpool makes it a landmark event that I am delighted Queensberry is providing backing for,” said Frank Warren, Queensberry Promotions Founder and Chairman.

“I know that so much hard work has been put in to make this inaugural Championships a major success and Liverpool will be playing host to elite fighters from right across the globe.

“Competitions like this are the bedrock of boxing and it is where the public can identify the future stars of the sport. I am thrilled to have Queensberry associated with the pinnacle of amateur boxing.”

World Boxing’s Chief Operating Officer, Simon Toulson, said: “It is great to have the support of Queensberry Promotions as we head-in into our inaugural World Boxing Championships.  Queensberry’s decision to partner with World Boxing is a great endorsement of our work and the confidence they have in World Boxing as the International Federation for the sport.”

The Chair of the Steering Group of the Local Organising Committee of the World Boxing Championships 2025, Jason Harborow, said: “Having the support of one of the world’s leading boxing promoters, that has been involved in some of the biggest global fights of recent years, is a sign of how significant an event the World Boxing Championships is.

“This is the place where many people will get their first look at some of the men and women that will become the global superstars of the future, so it is great that Queensberry wants to be a part of this and recognises the importance of supporting Olympic-style boxing and the grassroots, which is the lifeblood of the sport.”

More than 500 men and women from over 60 countries will compete in the World Boxing Championships which is the biggest Olympic-style boxing event ever held in the UK. It will feature competition in 10 weight classes for men and women and be the first time ever that male and female boxers have competed in Olympic-style boxing at the same event for the title of World Boxing Champion.

The competition schedule is available HERE and provides details of the weight classes that will box on each day of the competition and enables fans to buy tickets for the specific sessions where they want to watch boxers compete in particular weight categories.

Tickets for the inaugural World Boxing Championships 2025 are on sale now with Adult tickets priced at £15 and Concessions £5 (U16, OAPs, Students and those in receipt of benefits).  For tickets, the schedule and all the latest news and info about the Championships visit www.worldboxingliverpool.com.

World Boxing to hold Athletes Committee elections at World Boxing Championships 2025

World Boxing will host elections for its Athletes Committee at the inaugural World Boxing Championships 2025 in Liverpool, 4-14 September.

Six places (three men and three women) are available on the Committee which provides advice, guidance and opinions to World Boxing and is designed to ensure that boxers have a voice in the development of the organisation.

In addition to its role as a forum for discussing the needs of athletes, the group of six will nominate two of its members to serve as Athlete Representatives, who will be invited to attend and contribute directly to Executive Board meetings and sessions of Congress.

Every athlete in attendance at the World Boxing Championships will have the opportunity to vote in the electoral process. Every candidate has been validated by the Executive Board.

The full list of nominees is:

NameSurnameNationGender
Buse NazÇakıroğluTürkiyeFemale
CaitlinParkerAustraliaFemale
Daniel PittWales Male 
EmiliaKoterska PolandFemale
LaminBojangGambiaMale
LiQianChinaFemale
LucaHamoriHungaryFemale
RichardTorrez Jr.USAMale
YojerlinCesarFrance Man
ZareenNikhatIndiaFemale

Candidate must at all times act in compliance with the World Boxing Statutes, the World Boxing Code of Ethics and the Olympic Charter.

Candidates must not have incurred any measure or sanction in relation to any violation of the Olympic Charter, World Boxing Statutes, World Boxing Code of Ethics, the World Anti-Doping Code, the World Boxing Code for Prevention of Manipulation of Competition or other applicable policies by the International Olympic Committee, World Boxing, or a National Federation.

Community engagement programme launches alongside World Boxing Championships   

Liverpool is preparing to welcome the inaugural World Boxing Championships for Elite men and women this September – and a major community engagement programme is set to run alongside the sporting spectacle. 

From 4 – 14 September, the city will play host to the world’s best boxers, and Culture Liverpool is working with creative and sporting partners to ensure the event leaves a lasting legacy. The programme features three unique artistic residencies in schools and neighbourhoods, including a public exhibition celebrating the unsung heroes of the sport. 

Delivered in partnership with Open Eye Gallery and England Boxing, the Unsung Heroes exhibition will be on display at St George’s Hall – Stable Gallery shining a light on 20 grassroots figures nominated by local boxing clubs.  Photographers Emma Case and Katie Richardson, with filmmaker Susannah Fletcher, have captured portraits and stories of these “Unsung Heroes” – the people whose dedication continues to shape the boxing community.  The free exhibition runs 29 August – 20 September, open Monday-Saturday, 9am-4.30pm. 

Residencies will see artists working closely with local communities: At Rotunda ABC, artist and boxing coach Ciara Lyons is spending six weeks exploring stories of belonging, heritage and wellbeing, which will be developed into a film, performance and exhibition. Wired Aerial Theatre will work with secondary schools and take up residency at The Florrie – a venue with strong ties to Liverpool’s boxing history – delivering workshops and performances of their aerial theatre piece Me Vs Me. The production tackles themes of mental health and resilience, developed in partnership with mental health activists and education experts. Schools have also been offered the opportunity to attend boxing matches at the M&S Bank Arena during the championships. This programme has been made possible thanks to Liverpool City Council, World Boxing Championships, England Boxing, GB Boxing and UKSPF, with support from adi.tv. 

For more details, visit the Culture Liverpool website.  

Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, Councillor Harry Doyle, said: “Liverpool has a proud history of hosting massive global events such as Eurovision and the World Gymnastics Championships, which not only boost the local economy but also offer an opportunity to inspire and raise the aspirations of young people. “It is a huge coup for Liverpool to be hosting the inaugural World Boxing Championships but we want the legacy of the event to last much longer than just 10 days. We are delighted to be working with our communities and boxing clubs to ensure that we can support the future grassroots development of boxing in the city.  “The engagement programme will support cross-curricular learning, while encouraging our young people to get into habits which improve their physical and mental health, that hopefully continue long after the event.” 

Jason Harborow, Chair of the World Boxing Championships 2025 Steering Group, added: “It is really important when major events like the World Boxing Championships come to the UK that they have a positive impact and celebrate the work of people that do so much good work in the community in delivering the sport at the grassroots and Unsung Heroes is a brilliant example of a project that is doing this. “Liverpool is one of the most vibrant cities in the UK when it comes to boxing and that is because of the great work that goes in clubs and communities, and it is fantastic to see that this is being acknowledged and celebrated as part of the World Boxing Championships.” 

Open Eye Gallery’s Head of Social Practice, Sophie Mahon, said: “This exhibition offers a unique insight into the faces and stories of those creating a lasting impact and legacy within their local clubs and communities, capturing the spirit, resilience, and impact of the sport at its roots. “As this project has made clear, at a grassroots level, boxing is about far more than competition. These clubs offer safe spaces, structure, and support, especially for young people, fostering resilience, self-belief, and connection.  “They are places where confidence is built and where champions are measured not only by medals, but by the positive change they inspire.”

World Boxing confirms mandatory sex testing will apply in the female category at the inaugural World Boxing Championships 2025

New eligibility policy introduces mandatory sex testing for all World Boxing competitions

World Boxing has introduced mandatory sex testing, to determine the eligibility of male and female athletes that want to participate in its competitions as part of a new eligibility policy published HERE today.

The policy is designed to ensure the safety of all participants and deliver a competitive level playing field for men and women and means that all athletes over the age of 18 that want to participate in a World Boxing owned or sanctioned competition will need to undergo a once-in-a-lifetime PCR (polymerase chain reaction) of functional medical equivalent genetic screening test to determine their sex at birth and their eligibility to compete.

The new policy comes into effect from 20 August 2025 and will be applied in the female category at the forthcoming World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, 4-14 September 2025.

It means that all athletes who wish to take part in the 10 female weight categories at the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool will need to undergo a PCR or functional medical equivalent genetic screening test to certify their eligibility to box.

World Boxing’s policy on ‘Sex Eligibility’ has been crafted by a Working Group of its Medical and Anti-Doping Committee which examined medical evidence from a range of sources and spent nearly 12 months consulting with experts and studying legal, societal and sporting developments relating to the issue of eligibility by sex.

Under the policy, World Boxing will operate two categories as determined by sex: a men’s category and a women’s category.  To be eligible for the men’s category, a competitor must be male at birth. To be eligible for the women’s category, a competitor must be female at birth.

Participation in either category will be determined by a PCR or functional medical equivalent genetic screening test to determine sex at birth. The PCR test is a laboratory technique used to detect specific genetic material, in this case the SRY gene, which reveals the presence of the Y chromosome, that is an indicator of biological sex. The test can be conducted by nasal/mouth swab, saliva or blood.

Athletes deemed to be male at birth, as evidenced by the presence of Y chromosome genetic material (the SRY gene) or with a difference of sexual development (DSD) where male androgenization occurs, will be eligible to compete in the male category.

Athletes deemed to be female at birth, as evidenced by the presence of XX chromosomes or the absence of Y chromosome genetic material (the SRY gene) or with a DSD where male androgenization does not occur, will be eligible to compete in the female category.

National Federations will be responsible for testing and will be required to confirm the sex of their athletes when entering them into World Boxing competitions by providing a certification of their chromosomal sex, as determined by a PCR or functional medical equivalent genetic screening test.

A failure to provide certification of the chromosomal sex of an athlete or the provision of a false certification, will render the athlete ineligible to compete and may lead to sanctions against the athlete and/or its National Federation.

Where test results for boxers that want to compete in the female category reveal Y chromosome genetic material and a potential Difference of Sexual Development (DSD), the initial screenings will be referred to World Boxing’s expert medical panel for genetic screening, hormonal profiles, anatomical examination or other valuation of endocrine profiles by medical specialists. The policy includes an appeals process, and support will be offered to any boxers that provide an adverse test result.

The President of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst, said: “World Boxing respects the dignity of all individuals and is keen to ensure it is as inclusive as possible, yet in a combat sport like boxing, we have a duty of care to deliver safety and competitiveness fairness which are the key principles that have guided the development and creation of this policy.

“It has been a long and detailed process, but it was vital that we examined all of the medical, legal and sporting issues raised by this issue and I am confident that in introducing testing to certify the eligibility of an athlete to compete as a male or female, the new policy on ‘Sex Age and Weight’ will deliver sporting integrity and protect the safety of all participants.

“We recognise that the issues relating to eligibility in boxing are more pronounced in the women’s events which is why we have made the decision to implement the policy in the female category first, where it will apply for the forthcoming World Boxing Championships and this was communicated to all of our member National Federations some time ago, to enable them to begin the process of testing.

“I would like to thank the members of the Working Group for their hard work in developing and creating this policy over the last year and am grateful for the ongoing support of our member National Federations for their commitment and assistance in implementing it.”

World Boxing’s decision to prioritise testing in the female category is based on a recognition that the issues of safety and sporting integrity in relation to eligibility are most pronounced in women’s boxing. Testing will be applied for boxers in the male category at all World Boxing competitions from 1 January 2026.

This will mean that from 1 January 2026, all athletes over the age of 18 that want to participate in a World Boxing owned or sanctioned competition will need to undergo a, once-in-a-lifetime, PCR (polymerase chain reaction) or a functional medical equivalent genetic test to determine their sex at birth and their eligibility to compete.

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.

TOP TEN secures agreement with World Boxing to become an Official Equipment Manufacturer at multi-sport events and international boxing championships

World Boxing has reached an agreement with TOP TEN for it to become one of its Official Equipment Manufacturer.

The agreement means all relevant TOP TEN boxing products, including gloves and headgear, have passed independent technical and chemical tests and that it is now able to tender to be World Boxing’s equipment provider at any international competition or multi-sport event that features boxing.

The technical equipment vetting process included a wide range of chemical and mechanical tests which covered: the durability and strength of gloves and head protectors to withstand a pre-determined number of impacts; the scope, materials, structure and dimensions of products; safety requirements; functional quality; and environmental controls relating to the composition of the equipment and the materials used.

As part of the agreement World Boxing will continue to run random tests on TOP TEN boxing equipment to ensure the products in the market meet the original standards.

Peter Kruckenhauser, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of TOP TEN said: “TOP TEN has contributed significantly to the development of boxing gloves and headgear since 1989. Since then, TOP TEN has made a name for itself in the world of boxing. We are delighted to have now also agreed on a collaboration with World Boxing.”

The President of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst, added: “To be able to add a high-quality brand like TOP TEN to our roster of Official Equipment Manufacturers is great for World Boxing and all of the male and female boxers that will take part in the competitions covered by this arrangement.  It means the boxers can be confident that they will be competing with equipment that has been rigorously tested and meets the highest standards of technical quality and safety.”

World Boxing’s agreement with TOP TEN is non-exclusive and part of the process of building a list of accredited suppliers that meet the safety and quality standards to be able to tender to provide equipment for any boxing competitions where World Boxing’s rules apply or where World Boxing or its stakeholders are responsible for the event (such as Olympic Games, Continental Games, Multi-sport Games or Championships and other international boxing events).

As an officially approved World Boxing equipment manufacturer, TOP TEN is also eligible to supply and equip National Federations and a wide range of international competitions, including multi-sport events and continental championships to help support the sport’s development through high-performance, certified gear and long-term collaboration.

The agreement with TOP TEN is separate from World Boxing’s existing arrangement with Sting which is its ‘Official Competition Equipment Supplier’ and provide all the gloves, protective clothing, handwraps and training equipment used by boxers at the World Boxing Cup series and the U19 and elite World Boxing Championships.

Safety is our success – TOP TEN gear has been approved for Olympic boxing since 1988. With over 30 years of experience, TOP TEN is a leading name in combat sports. The TOP TEN safety equipment is rigorously tested and exceeds all required standards. TOP TEN offers complete solutions for athletes of all skill levels and is passionate about supporting athletes.

World Boxing-approved TOP TEN equipment includes boxing gloves, protective gear and hand wraps. 

World Boxing’s agreement with TOP TEN is separate to its existing contract with Sting which is its ‘Official Competition Equipment Supplier’ and provides all the gloves, protective clothing, handwraps and training equipment used by boxers at the World Boxing Cup series and the U19 and elite World Boxing Championships.

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.