World Boxing is set to kick off its first major competition of the year in Brazil today, marking a significant milestone after securing provisional recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and confirming boxing’s place at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. With 130 elite athletes from 19 nations competing in the World Boxing Cup in Foz do Iguaçu from March 31 to April 5, the governing body has also announced a surge in membership, now boasting 89 national federations, up from just 37 after the Paris Olympics. The Cup serves as a crucial ranking event, with boxers accumulating points across multiple stages throughout the season.
Speaking at the 144th IOC Session in Costa Navarino, Greece, World Boxing President Boris van der Vorst emphasized the federation’s priority to establish clear governance and competition policies. “The real work is starting now for us,” he stated, highlighting gender eligibility rules and fair judging as top priorities. The shadow of controversy from the Paris Olympics—where Algeria’s Imane Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting faced eligibility disputes—has reinforced the necessity for stringent policies. Van der Vorst confirmed the creation of a dedicated commission to address sex, age, and weight classifications, ensuring clarity and fairness in the sport.
Transparency in officiating remains a critical objective for World Boxing as it moves forward. To maintain integrity in scoring, the organization plans to adopt the judging framework used in Paris and explore advanced technological solutions, including artificial intelligence, to enhance fairness. “It’s crucial that we guarantee transparent and unbiased decisions,” van der Vorst stressed. By leveraging modern technology, World Boxing aims to mitigate past controversies and ensure a level playing field for all competitors.
As the recognized governing body for Olympic boxing, World Boxing is also pushing for greater global unity within the sport. With LA 2028 on the horizon, Van der Vorst is calling on more national federations to join. “The train has left the station already,” he remarked. “For us, it’s very important to unify the whole boxing world and have all the best boxers participating in LA 2028.” He urged federations to complete the rigorous application process swiftly to allow their athletes to compete in major multi-sport events, including the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar.
The federation’s rise follows the expulsion of the International Boxing Association (IBA) from the Olympic Movement in 2023, after repeated failures to reform governance and financial structures. The IOC, having overseen Olympic boxing tournaments in Tokyo and Paris, made it clear that the sport’s inclusion in future Games hinged on the establishment of a trustworthy new governing body. With its rapid growth and emphasis on good governance, World Boxing is now positioning itself as the future of Olympic boxing, ensuring that the sport remains a pillar of the Olympic movement for years to come.
