NEWS

Website launched for World Boxing Championships 2025 in Liverpool

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the inaugural World Boxing Championships 2025 has launched a new website – https://www.worldboxingliverpool.com/ – to provide information about the event which will be held at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool from 4–14 September 2025.

Anyone that is interested in getting early information about the Championships, including ticket offers and details about volunteering opportunities is advised to sign-up for updates via the website.

More than 500 boxers from over 60 countries will take part in the competition which will be the first Elite-level global championships hosted by World Boxing, the new International Federation for Olympic style boxing.  It will be the biggest Olympic-style boxing event to be held in Great Britain since the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The action will feature competition in 10 weight classes for both men and women and be the first time ever that male and female boxers have competed in Olympic-style boxing for the title of World Boxing Champion at the same event.

Liverpool has a long history of staging major international events and was selected as the host of the inaugural World Boxing Championships following a successful bid that was developed by a group of partners which comprised England Boxing, GB Boxing, Liverpool City Council and the M&S Bank Arena, with the support of the National Lottery and UK Sport. Event partners are Sting, Nike Boxing, Brabners, the Liverpool Bid Company and Visit Liverpool. For further information on the World Boxing Championships 2025 visit  https://www.worldboxingliverpool.com/.

World Boxing visits Nigeria and Malawi to help drive the development of the sport in Africa

As part of its commitment to developing and growing the sport of boxing in Africa, the President of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst, recently visited Nigeria where he met with leaders of the Nigerian Boxing Federation and visited boxing clubs and projects in the capital city of Lagos.

Nigeria was the first African nation to join World Boxing and is one of six National Federations from the Continent – along with Algeria, Egypt, Gambia, Madagascar and Malawi – that are members of World Boxing.

As part of his visit, the President outlined World Boxing’s plans for developing boxing in Africa at every level, from the grassroots to the elite, and identified areas of potential collaboration where it can work with National Federations on future funding initiatives to aid the growth of the sport.

He also outlined the critical importance of African nations continuing to be part of the Olympic Movement and how this may impact on their ability to participate at other important future events, such as the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal and the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Scotland – both of which are vital to development of boxing in Africa.

The President’s trip to Nigeria coincided with a visit to Malawi by a delegation of World Boxing representatives who delivered a presentation to the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) Zone VI and the Malawi National Olympic Committee on World Boxing’s hopes and plans to grow its representation in Africa.

Both trips were very positively received by their hosts and the President’s visit to Nigeria was covered extensively by local press and broadcast media. 

Examples of this can be viewed online at:

https://www.sports247.ng/world-boxing-federation-president-boris-van-der-vorst-tasks-nigerian-sports-officials-on-hosting-international-events/

https://aljazirahnews.com/world-boxing-president-boris-van-der-vorst-set-to-visit-nigeria/

https://dailytrust.com/world-boxing-president-boris-van-der-vorst-to-visit-nigeria/

WORLD BOXING RESPONDS TO THE DECISION BY THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE IOC TO GRANT PROVISIONAL OLYMPIC RECOGNITION

World Boxing has welcomed the decision by the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to grant it provisional recognition as the International Federation (IF) within the Olympic Movement governing the sport of boxing at world level.

Following the announcement today (26 February 2025), the President of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst, said: “This is a very significant day for everyone connected with the sport of boxing in the Olympic Movement. Keeping its place at the Olympic Games is absolutely critical to the future of our sport at every level, from the grassroots to the highest echelons of professional boxing, and this decision by the IOC takes us one step closer to our objective of seeing boxing restored to the Olympic programme.

“It has taken a huge team effort from a large number of people across the globe to get to this point and none of it would have been possible without the hard work and commitment of all of the National Federations, boxers, coaches, officials and boxing leaders that have worked together to make this possible. 

“Today’s decision by the IOC is an important milestone, however everyone connected with World Boxing understands that being part of the Olympic Movement is a privilege and a responsibility and not a right. There is still a lot of work to do, and everyone is as committed as ever to continuing to work together and doing everything within our power to deliver a better future for our sport and ensuring that boxing remains at heart of the Olympic Movement.”

The IOC’s decision was also welcomed by the former two-time unified world middleweight champion, Gennadiy Golovkin, who is the Chair of World Boxing’s Olympic Commission and the President of the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan. World Boxing’s Olympic Commission was established in September 2024, to liaise with the IOC and support and assist the process of developing a pathway to ensuring that boxing is restored to the Games.

Speaking after today’s announcement by the IOC, Gennadiy Golovkin, who won a silver medal at the Athens Olympics in 2004, said: “Receiving provisional Olympic recognition from the IOC is an important achievement and demonstrates that our sport is on the right path. This decision brings us one step closer to our main goal – preserving boxing at the Olympic Games.

“I am pleased that through the continuous efforts of all the people who support World Boxing, we have managed to achieve this result. Establishing an international federation built on the principles of integrity and fairness is our shared mission for the future generation of athletes and future champions. There is still a lot to do to achieve all the goals set, so we will not stop here.”

The news was warmly received by a number of boxers that won Olympic medals in Paris and Tokyo.

Cindy Ngamba, who was the first refugee in history to win an Olympic medal, when she won Middleweight bronze at Paris 2024, added: “Having the opportunity to compete for the Refugee Team at Paris 2024 has transformed my career and my life and shows how important it is that boxers continue to have the opportunity to take part in the Olympic Games. 

“The thought of being able to compete at the Olympics was one of the things that kept me going in difficult times and inspired me to pursue a career in boxing.  It would be hugely damaging to the careers of male and female boxers across the world if this opportunity did not exist for them, so the decision by the IOC to provisionally recognise World Boxing is really good news for the sport as it keeps the Olympic dream alive.”

Richard Torrez Jr, who won a Super-heavyweight silver medal for the USA at Tokyo 2020 before turning professional with Top Rank, said: “It is impressive to see the continuous progress that World Boxing has made as an international federation in such a short time. Provisional recognition by the IOC is a very positive step and will enable the organisation to continue to provide a platform for boxers from across the globe to compete and hone their skills at the highest international levels. It is great to see this progress and I am confident that the organization is moving in the right direction.”

Tokyo 2020 gold medallist and current WBA, IBO and The Ring Welterweight World Champion, Lauren Price, who is also an Athlete Representative on the Executive Board of World Boxing commented: “It was always my dream to compete at the Olympic Games and nothing I achieve in my professional career will ever top the achievement of winning gold at Tokyo 2020.

“Competing and winning gold at the Olympics Games provided me with a platform that is enabling me to enjoy a successful career as a professional boxer. For up-and-coming boxers to be denied this opportunity would be damaging for their careers and the sport as a whole.

“World Boxing has consistently fought to ensure that boxers can continue to have the chance to compete on the highest stage in sport at the Olympic Games and it is very positive to hear that the IOC has decided to provisionally recognise World Boxing.

“Hopefully this will be the first step toward seeing boxing restored to the Olympic programme which will be a massive boost for the sport and the hopes and dreams of male and female boxers at all levels across the world.”

World Boxing secures long-term agreement with Exceed Boxing for event and commercial rights management 

 World Boxing has secured a long-term exclusive agreement with Exceed Boxing to manage and monetise its events and commercial rights. 

From the owners of Sportworx, Exceed Boxing is a global leading event management and commercialisation company dedicated to transforming the landscape of Olympic-style boxing. 

Under the agreement, it will have exclusive access to the sale and licensing of World Boxing’s commercial rights including its competitions, broadcasting rights, sponsorship, ticketing, merchandising and gaming. 

World Boxing and Exceed Boxing have established a model in which profits from the sale of media rights, sponsorships, ticket sales, and merchandise will contribute to the financial growth of both the International Federation and its member National Federations. 

World Boxing will retain exclusive rights for the sale of some specific assets including Global Sponsorship, Website Sponsorship, Merchandise Sponsorship and Social Impact Sponsorship. 

It is World Boxing’s third major commercial partnership and follows agreements with merchandise and equipment provider, Sting, and sporting apparel and footwear supplier, Nike Boxing. 

The President of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst, said: “This is a very important agreement for World Boxing that will positively impact the financial sustainability of the organisation and significantly enhance the work we are doing to secure recognition from the IOC. 

“The decision by Exceed Boxing to make this investment in World Boxing is a sign of the confidence they have in our organisation, our plans for the sport and the benefits we can deliver by ensuring that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic Movement.” 

Danny Menken, co-founder of Exceed Boxing, commented: “At Exceed Boxing, our mission is to revolutionize the sport by delivering world-class boxing experiences to boxers and fans around the globe. Through our long term partnership with World Boxing, we are committed to elevating the sport’s commercial success while keeping the passion of the fans and the integrity of the athletes at the core of everything we do. This collaboration marks a new era for Olympic-style boxing—one that prioritizes innovation, accessibility, and global growth” 

World Boxing Vice President and President of Boxing Canada, Ryan O’Shea, who played a significant role in securing the deal, added: “I have no doubt that this agreement is a major milestone in the evolution and development of World Boxing.

“Throughout the process of negotiating this agreement, Exceed Boxing, has demonstrated that they are aligned with the vision and values of World Boxing, understand the huge potential that exists within our sport and are committed to working with us to ensure that boxing continues to be a central part of the Olympic Games.” 

World Boxing was launched in April 2023 and is committed to ensuring that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic movement. 

On 7 May 2024, it held its first formal meeting with the IOC which signalled the start of collaboration aimed at establishing a pathway for boxing to remain in the Olympic Games. 

On 26 September 2024, World Boxing announced that it had set-up an Olympic Commission, chaired by the President of the National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan, Gennadiy Golovkin, to support and assist the process of developing a pathway to ensuring that boxing is restored to the Games. 

World Boxing’s Executive Board approves six new applications from Kosovo, Syria, Hungary, Malawi, Estonia and Switzerland to take its membership to 78 countries

The Executive Board of World Boxing has approved six more membership applications from the National Federations for boxing in Kosovo, Syria, Hungary, Malawi, Estonia and Switzerland to take its membership to 78 countries.

The confirmation of Hungary as the 75th country to have its membership application approved by World Boxing’s Executive Board means that the International Federation has achieved one of the widely established criteria for Olympic inclusion, that a sport must be practiced in at least 75 countries on four continents.

All of the new National Federations have completed a rigorous application process to join World Boxing. They are deemed to be in good standing and, through their statutes and operating processes, able to demonstrate a transparent and open election process, the existence and operation of WADA-recognised anti-doping polices and processes, evidence of independent, structured, dispute resolution and appeals processes, formal recognition by either their National Olympic Committee (NOC) or Ministry for Sport and a solid national and international boxing programme.

The President of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst, said: “This is a very significant milestone for World Boxing and I am delighted to welcome our six newest members and thank each of them for making the decision to join our mission to ensure that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic Movement.

“It is a particular pleasure to welcome Hungary as our 75th member as this means that World Boxing has achieved one of the widely established criteria for a sport to be included in the Olympic Games. 

“This is very positive news for everyone involved with boxing, at all levels, throughout the world and I would like to thank all of our member National Federations for their steadfast support and commitment to delivering a better future for boxers and everyone associated with our sport.

“We are continuing to receive applications from National Federations across the world that want to be part of World Boxing, and I urge all boxing leaders that want to ensure their boxers have the opportunity to compete at a future Olympic Games to do the same and apply to join World Boxing.”

A full list of the 78 National Federations that are members of World Boxing can be viewed HERE.

World Boxing was launched in April 2023 and is committed to ensuring that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic movement.

On 7 May 2024, it held its first formal meeting with the IOC which signalled the start of collaboration aimed at establishing a pathway for boxing to remain in the Olympic Games.

On 26 September 2024, World Boxing announced that it had set-up an Olympic Commission, chaired by the President of the National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan, Gennadiy Golovkin, to support and assist the process of developing a pathway to ensuring that boxing is restored to the Games.

World Boxing to hold Extraordinary Congress on 1 March 2025 to approve new membership applications

World Boxing is to hold an Extraordinary Congress on 1 March 2025 to enable members to formally approve a series of new applications from boxing National Federations that want to join the International Federation.

The Extraordinary Congress will be held virtually and overseen by independent, third-party assessors.

The 55 National Federations that were confirmed as members of World Boxing by the end of its most recent Congress (3 November 2024) will be eligible to participate in the Extraordinary Congress and vote on the new membership applications that have been received since then. 

At present, an additional 17 National Federations have had their membership applications approved by the Executive Board of World Boxing since the Congress in November 2024, however this number is expected to rise by the time of the Extraordinary Congress on 1 March 2025.

The decision to hold an Extraordinary Congress reflects the status of Congress as the highest decision-making body of World Boxing and aims to ensure that all membership applications have been approved by Congress as well as the Executive Board in advance of the forthcoming IOC Session (19-21 March 2025).

Boris van der Vorst, the President of World Boxing, said: “World Boxing is committed to upholding the highest standards of governance and transparency so the Executive Board has decided to hold this Extraordinary Congress to ensure that there is no ambiguity about the number of National Federations that are confirmed members of World Boxing, when the IOC comes to meet at its next Session in March. 

“Congress is the highest authority of World Boxing and by ensuring that every application has been assessed and voted on by Congress, we can be unequivocally clear about the precise size and composition of our membership.”

World Boxing was launched in April 2023 and is committed to ensuring that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic movement.

On 7 May 2024, it held its first formal meeting with the IOC which signalled the start of collaboration aimed at establishing a pathway for boxing to remain in the Olympic Games.

On 26 September 2024, World Boxing announced that it had set-up an Olympic Commission, chaired by the President of the National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan, Gennadiy Golovkin, to support and assist the process of developing a pathway to ensuring that boxing is restored to the Games.

Executive Board of World Boxing approves four new applications to join from Egypt, Gambia, Kiribati and Grenada as membership grows to 72 countries

The Executive Board of World Boxing has approved membership applications from the National Federations for boxing in Egypt, Gambia, Kiribati and Grenada, to take its membership to 72 countries.

The addition of Egypt and Gambia grows World Boxing’s footprint in Africa. The approval of Kiribati’s application means it now has seven members in Oceania.

All of the new National Federations have completed a rigorous application process to join World Boxing. They 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
  • The existence and operation of WADA-recognised 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
  • A solid national and international boxing sports programme

The President of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst, said: “The approval of four more applications is a sign of the continued progress of World Boxing and the widespread desire for change that exists across the sport.

“It is clear that the only way that boxing will continue to be part of the Olympic Movement is for National Federations to support World Boxing and it is good to see that boxing leaders from all parts of the world recognise this and are applying to join us.

“We are continuing to process applications from National Federations across the world I urge all boxing leaders that want to ensure their boxers to have the opportunity to compete at a future Olympic Games to seek to be part of World Boxing.”

A full list of the 72 National Federations that are members of World Boxing can be viewed HERE.

World Boxing was launched in April 2023 and is committed to ensuring that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic movement.

On 7 May 2024, it held its first formal meeting with the IOC which signalled the start of collaboration aimed at establishing a pathway for boxing to remain in the Olympic Games.

On 26 September 2024, World Boxing announced that it had set-up an Olympic Commission, chaired by the President of the National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan, Gennadiy Golovkin, to support and assist the process of developing a pathway to ensuring that boxing is restored to the Games.

World Boxing to establish Continental Confederation in the Americas

World Boxing is to establish a Pan American Boxing Confederation to drive the development and growth of Olympic-style boxing in the Americas.

The Confederation is being formed by 17 National Federations from the Americas that are members of World Boxing and will be known as the Pan American Boxing Confederation.

The new Confederation will hold its inaugural Congress on 15 March 2025 in Panama City, Panama when members will approve the statutes of the new Confederation, elect its Executive Leadership, and establish operating guidelines.

The Congress will also include elections for the Confederation’s Executive Committees including seven positions on the board of directors and four committee Chair positions (Medical & Anti-Doping, Judicial, Audit & Finance, Sport & Competition).

In preparation for the Congress, the Pan American Boxing Confederation’s Interim Board of Directors will work with a third-party provider to establish an independent vetting panel to review all applications for leadership roles.

Boris van der Vorst, the President of World Boxing, said: “The creation of the Pan American Boxing Confederation is further evidence of the progress of World Boxing and the widespread desire for a change that exists across the sport. 

“World Boxing has consistently enjoyed strong support in this part of the world and I would like to express my gratitude to all of our members in the Americas for taking this important step which will deliver huge benefits to the boxers and everyone connected with the sport in the region.”

A statement from the Interim Board of Directors of the Pan American Boxing Confederation said: “We are incredibly excited to see the Americas collaboratively establish the Pan American Boxing Confederation. This a step that further proves the progress made within the sport of Olympic-style boxing over the past few years and further solidifies our Continent within the sport in the years to come.

“Our goal with the creation of the Pan American Boxing Confederation is to provide exceptional competitions for each of our national federations and their many boxers. Olympic-style boxing is a sport built upon hard work and dedication to the craft, and we hope to embody that philosophy with the Pan American Boxing Confederation.”

The President of the Brazilian Boxing Federation (CCBoxe), Marcos Brito, added: “Today, the Americas celebrate a historic day. We take immense pride in announcing the establishment of the Pan American Boxing Confederation, created with great hope and faith in the future of Olympic-style boxing. This endeavour demonstrates to the world the power of collaboration among individuals driven by a common goal, free from personal interests.

“The Pan American Boxing Confederation is dedicated to realizing top-tier competitions and is committed to the development of boxing through mutual collaboration by empowering athletes, coaches, referees, and judges. Through World Boxing, we strive to contribute to the growth of Olympic-style boxing globally.”

The 17 countries whose National Federations will have the opportunity to participate and vote at the inaugural Congress include: Argentina, Barbados, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Caymen Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Panama, Peru, USA, Suriname and the Virgin Islands.

The Pan American Boxing Confederation is the second Continental Confederation established by World Boxing following the announcement in November 2024 that an Asian Confederation is being created.

World Boxing was launched in April 2023 and currently has 68 National Federations as members covering all five Continents that take part in Olympic-style boxing.

It is committed to ensuring that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic movement and on 7 May 2024, it held its first formal meeting with the IOC which signalled the start of collaboration aimed at establishing a pathway for boxing to remain in the Olympic Games.

On 26 September 2024, World Boxing announced that it had set-up an Olympic Commission, chaired by the President of the National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan, Gennadiy Golovkin, to support and assist the process of developing a pathway to ensuring that boxing is restored to the Games.