NEWS

European U19 Boxing Championships produces 10 different gold-medal nations

After eight days of competition, featuring 333 bouts across 20 weight categories, Russia topped the medal table at the European U19 Boxing Championships in Loznica, Serbia.

Competition for the European U19 Boxing Championships took place between August 13 – 21 at the Sport Hall Lagator and served as an excellent development opportunity for emerging amateur athletes in Europe. 

Russia dominated the overall medal table, collecting eight gold medals, whilst England finished second with four golds, one silver and three bronze medals. Ireland, Ukraine, Serbia, Italy, Georgia and Croatia also claimed gold medals during a championship that saw 25 nations finish with at least one medal.

Russia’s medal tally was spearheaded by Kristina Borisenko ( W54kg), Ekaterina Frolova (W80kg), Samira Itonieva (W80+kg) and Kirill Korshakov (M85kg). Prokhor Startsev defeated Italy’s Tiberio Nocadello to claim M80kg gold. Former European Junior Champion Anastasia Golunova also added gold at W57kg.

A total of 353 boxers from 35 nations competed for the 20 European titles, with Russia and Turkey fielding the largest delegations with 20 boxers each. Poland and Ukraine followed with 19 competitors.

England enjoyed an impressive championship, securing four gold medals. Rueben Huczmann defeated Russia’s Islam Magomedov in the M55kg final, while Lily Bassett controlled all three rounds against Ireland’s Ellen Joyce in the W57kg final to claim her fourth European title.

Albe Dowell produced one of the biggest surprises of the finals, overcoming Russia’s Temirsultan Temirsultanov in the M90kg final after falling behind early. Yashua Flemming completed England’s gold medal haul at M65kg, defeating Belarus’ Bahdan Shashlykou at his first European Championships.

Ireland enjoyed a memorable finals session, claiming gold through Kristian Jubani at M50kg and John Maher at M70kg. Jubani edged Georgia’s Shalva Beridze, while Maher defeated defending champion Akaki Basaria.

Germany’s Justin Kiz defeated Russia’s Kirill Shinkar with a superb final round to claim M75kg gold and Germany’s only title of the championships.

Serbia also secured two gold medals, with Sonja Vuksic overcoming Russia’s Daria Antipova at W75kg, while Jovana Devetakovic pushed Russia’s Anastasia Golunova before the Russian claimed victory at W57kg.

Ukraine’s Oleksandr Khomenko defeated Russia’s Ivan Baibakov to claim gold in the M90+kg category.

Croatia enjoyed a historic championship with two women’s gold medals. Lorena Horvat defeated Turkey’s Buse Nur Yazan at W70kg, while Bella Zueva stopped Croatia’s Agata Stajcer at W65kg.

Italy’s Daniele Fabi defeated Azerbaijan’s Ali Baghishov to claim M60kg gold, while Slovakia’s Karolina Kollarova overcame England’s Lexie Walker to win W60kg.

The championships produced 10 different gold-medal nations, with 15 nations reaching at least one final and 25 countries collecting medals.

World Boxing is set to host its own U19 competition at the end of the 2026 season, with the U19 World Boxing Championships scheduled to take place in Budva, Montenegro from October 14 – 27. 

129 boxers from 18 countries ready to compete at Mediterranean Games 2026 in Taranto

129 athletes from 18 national federations are preparing to face off at this year’s Mediterranean Games in Taranto, Italy, with the boxing competition running from 22 – 27 August. 

World Boxing is responsible for the management and delivery of the boxing competition which will feature elite male and female boxing talent from across the Mediterranean region.

The national federations sending teams to the event are Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Kosovo, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Tunisia and Türkiye.

Host’s Italy are putting forward a 12-strong team which includes Paris Olympian Sirine Charaabi, who won bronze at the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool and silver at last year’s World Boxing Cup Finals – Greater Noida.

Spain’s World Boxing Championships silver medallist Rafael Lozano Serrano will be competing in the men’s 55kg category, he is also an Olympian having competed at Paris 2024.

Boxers will compete across 14 weight classes, seven for men and seven for women, ensuring gender parity within the competition.

MenWomen
55kg51kg
60kg54kg
65kg57kg
70kg60kg
80kg65kg
90kg70kg
90kg+75kg

It is the second multi-sport event held under World Boxing’s rules in 2026, following the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, with the Asian Games and Youth Olympic Games still to follow this year. 

Live results, schedules and brackets will be available on the Taranto 2026 website.

World Boxing will share updates ahead of and during the competition on its website and social media channels.

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/officialworldboxing/

X – https://x.com/RealWorldBoxing

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/OfficialWorldBoxing

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-boxing/

World Boxing opens bidding to host Referee & Judge certification courses

World Boxing has opened applications for National Federations to host its Continental-level Referee and Judge (R&J) Certification Courses, in a fresh step to raise officiating standards across the sport.

The courses certify referees and judges to Continental level and run alongside a live competition, giving candidates the bouts they need to complete their assessment. Each course takes up to 25 candidates and is delivered under World Boxing Competition Rules, with World Boxing Evaluators overseeing the certification throughout.

Federations interested in hosting can find the full requirements in the hosting pack and submit their bid via the hosting application form.

Applications close on 21st of August, 2026. Any competition put forward to host a course must be scheduled at least three months after that date.

Bidding procedure available here

Registration now open for World Boxing Congress 2026, Panama City

World Boxing has opened registration for the World Boxing Congress 2026, which will take place on Friday, 20 November 2026, in Panama City, Panama in hybrid format.

The 2026 Congress will be an elective Congress, with seven positions on the Executive Board due to be elected. The official List of Nominated Candidates has now been published.

The Congress will conclude a week of World Boxing meetings in Panama City. The Executive Board will meet on 18 November, followed by the Pan-American Boxing Congress and the Official Welcome Gala Dinner on 19 November. The World Boxing Congress will convene on 20 November, with departures scheduled for 21 November.

The Congress and official accommodation will be hosted at Hotel El Panamá by Faranda Grand, Av. Central España 111, Panama City.

All registration, accommodation, transport and visa-letter requests must be completed through the official online entry system.

REGISTER FOR WORLD BOXING 2026 CONGRESS

Delegations and Voting

In accordance with the World Boxing Statutes, each Full Member may be represented at Congress by up to three delegates.

A third delegate may only be appointed where that delegate is of a different gender to the first two delegates. Each delegate must either hold the same nationality as the Member, have permanent residence in the Member’s country or territory, or work for that Member. No delegate may be appointed solely to act as a translator.

Each Full Member must nominate one delegate as its Voting Delegate. Only nominated Voting Delegates are entitled to vote on decisions at Congress.

The names of all delegates, including the nominated Voting Delegate, must be submitted to the World Boxing Secretary General, Tom DIELEN, at tdielen@worldboxing.org, no later than 30 days prior to Congress, by 21 October 2026, except in cases of force majeure.

Continental Associations and Associate Members may each be represented by up to two delegates.

Costs

All costs related to attendance at the Congress are the responsibility of the delegates of the National Federations and Executive Board members, with the exception of the Athletes’ Committee Chair and Deputy Chair.

Key deadlines to be aware of

The following deadlines must be strictly observed:

  • 30 August 2026 — Visa support letter requests
  • 14 September 2026 — Pre-entry hotel reservation
  • 21 September 2026 — 60% payment for hotel and transport
  • 28 September 2026 — Final hotel reservation
  • 30 September 2026 — 100% payment for hotel and transport
  • 21 October 2026 — Submission of the completed delegation list to the World Boxing Secretary General and any proposals for the Congress 2026 Agenda

Please note that no exceptions will be made to these deadlines. Any federation that registers by 21 October 2026 but does not attend will be charged in accordance with its registration.

Accommodation

The official Congress hotel is Hotel El Panamá by Faranda Grand, Av. Central España 111, Panama City.

The hotel offers single and double occupancy rooms at the following rates:

  • USD 195 per person for single occupancy
  • USD 350 for double occupancy

Rates apply to three- or four-night packages, with a per-night discount available for longer stays: USD 10 per night for a three-night stay and USD 20 per night for a four-night stay.

Reservations are subject to availability and are confirmed only upon receipt of payment. Payment must be made by bank transfer in USD. Credit card payments cannot be accepted.

Airport Transfers

The official port of entry for the World Boxing Congress 2026 is Panama International Airport.

Round-trip transfers between the airport and the official hotel may be booked through the Organising Committee at no additional cost, using the travel form provided to each registered delegate.

Visas

Visa requirements vary according to nationality. It is the responsibility of each delegate to verify whether a visa is required to enter Panama. Delegates may check their visa requirements using the CIBTvisas visa quick-check tool.

Visa applications must be submitted individually. The Organising Committee cannot apply for a visa on behalf of any delegate.

As visa processing times may vary, delegates are strongly encouraged to begin the process as early as possible. Requests for an official invitation or visa support letter must be sent to the Organising Committee, together with a scanned passport copy, no later than 30 August 2026.

Contacts

World Boxing Congress 2026, Panama Organising Committee

For organisation and visa matters:
Luis CESAR, cesaresinc@gmail.com
Amabelis CAMAÑO, yanycar3126@hotmail.com

For accommodation and transport:
Karibel ZAMORA, grupos.panama@farandahotels.com
Tel: +507 215-9996

World Boxing

Sandrine BLATTER MARTINEZ, sblatter@worldboxing.org

World Boxing continues bidding process for 12 competitions from 2027 – 2029

World Boxing is continuing its bidding process for National Federations interested in hosting competitions across the 2027–2029 competition calendar, with 11 events still open for submissions.

Following the opening of the three-year bidding process in June, National Federations have already expressed interest in hosting a number of competitions. Several opportunities remain available across the World Boxing Cup series and World Boxing’s World Championships.

The remaining bidding opportunities are:

Competitions in 2027

World Boxing Cups

  • World Boxing Cup 1
  • World Boxing Cup 2
  • World Boxing Cup Final

Competitions in 2028

World Boxing Cups

  • World Boxing Cup 1
  • World Boxing Cup 3
  • World Boxing Cup Final

U19 World Boxing Championships

  • World Boxing U19 World Boxing Championships

Competitions in 2029

World Boxing Cups

  • World Boxing Cup 1
  • World Boxing Cup 2
  • World Boxing Cup 3

World Boxing Championships

  • World Boxing Championships

National Federations interested in hosting one or more of these competitions are encouraged to review the relevant bidding guidelines and submit their proposals within the applicable timeframe.

The bidding process provides National Federations with the opportunity to showcase their countries and cities while contributing to the continued development and global growth of boxing.

The full bidding guidelines and information on how to submit a bid can be found HERE.

National Federations that would like further information about the bidding process or have questions about the requirements can contact the World Boxing bid team directly at bids@worldboxing.org.

Dates changed for World Boxing Cup Finals 2026 in Tashkent

The dates of this year’s World Boxing Cup Finals, which will be held in Tashkent in Uzbekistan have been amended and the competition will now run from 26 November – 4 December 2026.

The previous dates for the event were the 25th November – 2nd December 2026.

The event in Tashkent will be the culmination of the World Boxing Cup series for 2026 and follows competitions in Brazil in April and China in June 2026. World Boxing Rankings points are on offer at the finals event that will be used to guide seedings at the Olympic qualifying competitions in 2027 and 2028.

Further details on the World Boxing Cup Finals in Tashkent will be circulated to National Federations shortly. Any enquiries about this event or World Boxing’s Competition Calendar should be sent to sport@worldboxing.org.

Olympic Solidarity and World Boxing Partnership Supports Young Athletes on the Road to Dakar 2026

Olympic Solidarity

World Boxing is proud to recognise the invaluable support provided by the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Solidarity Programme in helping young boxers take an important step on their journey towards the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

The World Boxing Futures Cup, held in Bangkok, Thailand, in March 2026, served as the event for athletes seeking selection for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. Attendance at the event was a mandatory eligibility requirement, making participation a crucial milestone for aspiring Youth Olympians.

Through the Olympic Solidarity Programme, National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and their National Federations received funding to ensure that talented young athletes had the opportunity to compete, regardless of financial barriers.

In total, the programme supported:

  • 21 National Olympic Committees
  • 32 athletes, comprising 22 men and 10 women
  • 34 coaches

Financial support of $175,000 covered international travel to Thailand, accommodation and meals, enabling athletes and coaches from across Africa, Asia, Oceania, Europe, and the Americas to attend the World Boxing Futures Cup and compete for the opportunity to progress towards Dakar 2026.

Elise Seignolle, President of the Panamerican Boxing Confederation, who facilitated the support of teams from Honduras, Guatemala, Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago, said “Olympic Solidarity has played a vital role in giving young athletes opportunities that can shape their entire sporting journey. By supporting their preparation and participation, it allows talented boxers from across the Americas to compete on the international stage and continue developing toward their Olympic dreams. We are deeply grateful for this partnership and its lasting impact on the next generation of champions.”

The IOC established six selection principles for Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, including wide continental representation and strong African representation as the host continent. As a result, the selection event has achieved exceptional global diversity, with 79 NOCs represented across the 120 athlete quota places for Dakar 2026.

World Boxing also thanks the participating NOCs, National Federations and coaches whose commitment ensured these young athletes could take part in this important initiative, with several athletes travelling outside of their home countries for the very first time.

The partnership between Olympic Solidarity and World Boxing demonstrates the shared commitment of both organisations to developing the next generation of Olympic boxers and providing meaningful opportunities for young athletes on the Road to Dakar 2026 and beyond.

The NOC’s supported for the participation in the World Boxing Futures Cup include:

BeninBotswanaEquatorial Guinea
LibyaMauritiusNamibia
SenegalGambiaSeychelles
Bangladesh BhutanIraq
LebanonGuatemalaHonduras
Trinidad and TobagoVenezuelaLithuania
LatviaFijiTuvalu

World Boxing are now working with the Olympic Solidarity department of the IOC and members of the African Confederation to facilitate a pre-competition training camp in Senegal for the athletes supported by the programme. 

Solomon Desmond Kargbo, President of African Boxing said: “African Boxing is entering a defining moment, which has been made possible with the support of the Olympic Solidarity Program. As we look ahead to the Youth Olympic Games, this momentum gives our athletes crucial preparation and sends a strong message that African boxing is progressing with structure, ambition and purpose.”

The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games will be held in Senegal from 31st October to 13th November with the boxing competition taking place between November 7th and November 12th. 

Executive Board of World Boxing endorses membership applications from National Federations for boxing in Chad, Ethiopia, Liberia, Kuwait and Yemen

The Executive Board of World Boxing has endorsed five new membership applications from the National Federations for boxing in Chad, Ethiopia, Liberia, Kuwait and Yemen.

To secure the endorsement of the Executive Board, all six National Federations have completed a rigorous application process and 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; showcase the existence and operation of WADA-recognsied anti-doping polices and processes; and provide evidence of a structured, dispute resolution and appeals process that is either fully independent or subject to external input.

The five new National Federation members are:

1. Chad Boxing Federation

2. Ethiopian Boxing Federation 

3. Liberia Boxing Federation

4. Kuwait Federation of Boxing 

5. Yemen Boxing Federation

The endorsements expand World Boxing’s footprint in Africa and mean that globally it currently has 183 member National Federations that are able to compete in its competitions, made-up of 122 ‘Full Members’, one ‘Associate Member’ and 60 ‘Endorsed Members’.

World Boxing previously had 180 members, but one of these National Federations has had its membership suspended and one has been cancelled.

Ecuador was suspended after an agreement that was not implemented. Following a letter informing it of the suspension, the National Federation for Ecuador took action and is holding a General Assembly in September which is expected to resolve the situation.

The endorsement of membership that was made to the National Federation in Cameroon in April 2026 has been cancelled as further analysis of the documents submitted did not fulfil the requirements of membership. The NOC and the Ministry of Sports in Cameroon are working together to develop a new application that is expected to be submitted in the near future.

Under World Boxing Statutes HERE the six new National Federations have ‘Endorsed Member’ status which means they are able to compete in World Boxing competitions but cannot vote at Congress 2026 as they do not have ‘Full Member’ status.

‘Full Member’ status can only be conferred by Congress, which is the ultimate authority of World Boxing, and will be voted on at the next World Boxing Congress in Panama on 20 November 2026. ‘Endorsed Members’ that are successful in having their membership applications ratified at this Congress and become ‘Full Members’ will be able to vote at the following year’s Congress in 2027 and all those thereafter.

A directory of World Boxing’s members is HERE. 

World Boxing was launched in April 2023. 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.