New Delhi: On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) granted provisional recognition to World Boxing (WB), paving the way for the sport's potential inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic program.

The status of boxing as an Olympic sport faced uncertainty after the IOC revoked the International Boxing Association's (IBA) membership in April 2023 due to concerns regarding governance and officiating. Consequently, the boxing events at the last two Olympic Games—Tokyo and Paris—were managed by the IOC. However, boxing has not yet been confirmed for the Los Angeles Games, as the IOC sought a new global body to assume the role of the International Federation (IF) for the sport.

World Boxing, led by Dutch national Boris van der Vorst, was established in 2023 as a breakaway from the IBF and has been garnering support from various national federations. Following a thorough assessment, the IOC Executive Board granted WB provisional recognition on Wednesday.

India became a member of World Boxing last year, prior to the Paris Olympics.

The IOC stated that WB has met the necessary criteria for recognition as an IF. "WB has made significant progress in addressing the identified areas of consideration, which has led to its recommendation for IOC Provisional Recognition as the IF governing the sport of boxing at the global level," the IOC remarked.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that the World Boxing (WB) organization comprises 78 national federations and has established four continental confederations to date. The boxing organization, which has collaborated closely with the IOC, has instituted integrity measures and a robust governance framework.

According to the IOC's statement, WB has demonstrated that 62% of the boxers and 58% of the medalists in boxing at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris are affiliated with national federations that are members of WB. The organization has adopted the sports integrity process initiated during the Olympics by the Paris Boxing Unit, which includes independent oversight.

WB has also provided assurances regarding its revenue generation strategy, which is based on multi-year commercial partnerships spanning from 2025 to 2028.

The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has been assigned significant responsibilities within a new Asian organization. India is set to host both the World Boxing Cup Final and the World Boxing Congress later this year.

In response to the IOC's announcement, Van der Vorst remarked: "This is a momentous day for all those involved in the sport of boxing within the Olympic framework. Maintaining our presence in the Olympics is vital for the future of our sport at all levels, from grassroots initiatives to the pinnacle of professional boxing. This decision by the IOC brings us closer to our goal of reinstating boxing in the Olympic program."

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