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As the countdown to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games kicks off, one of the most storied sports in Olympic history may face an unprecedented exclusion.
Boxing, a fixture of the Games since 1904, is at risk of being dropped from the program due to a complex web of governance issues and international disputes.
What is happening in boxing?
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has set a deadline of 2025 to decide whether boxing will be included in the Los Angeles Games.
This decision is contingent on the establishment of a new global governing body for the sport, following the IOC's decision to strip the International Boxing Association (IBA) of its recognition last year.
The IBA, which had been marred by issues of governance, finance, and ethics, lost its place at the Olympic table after failing to implement necessary reforms.
IOC President Thomas Bach expressed a strong desire to see boxing remain part of the Olympic program, stating, "The IOC would love to have boxing at the Los Angeles 2028 Games."
However, he also emphasized that time is running out.
"We cannot wait longer than the end of next year,"Bach said, highlighting the urgency for the formation of a new, widely recognized governing body.
In response to the IOC's demands, a new organization called World Boxing was established in 2023, and it has since garnered 37 national federation .
However, this is still significantly fewer than the IBA's hip.
Despite these challenges, World Boxing President Boris Van Der Vorst remains optimistic.
"There's only one reason to [World Boxing], and that's to save our sport," Van Der Vorst remarked, underscoring the importance of unity within the sport's global community.
WBA wants to save Olympic boxing
World Boxing is striving to expand its influence and hip, with Van Der Vorst expecting at least 50 federations to in the weeks following the Paris Olympics.
He described this effort as "the greatest comeback story ever in the Olympic movement," but acknowledged the significant hurdles that remain.
Key among these is the reluctance of some of the world's top boxing federations, many of which have longstanding ties to the IBA.
The IOC's stance is clear: without a credible and universally recognized governing body, boxing may not be a part of the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
The sport's future in the Olympics now hinges on the ability of World Boxing to rally and demonstrate its capability to lead the sport into a new era.