By Boxing faces a critical moment as it risks losing its place in the Olympic Games, a blow that could profoundly impact both amateur and professional levels of the sport. With the International Olympic Committee (IOC) expelling the scandal-plagued international federation and with no plans to oversee boxing again as it did for the Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024 Games, the future looks uncertain.
Rob McCracken, GB’s performance director, emphasized the importance of boxing remaining an Olympic sport, stating that it represents the pinnacle of an amateur boxer’s career. Eddie Hearn and Carl Frampton echoed these concerns, warning of the damaging effects on the sport if boxing is excluded from the Olympics, particularly the potential decrease in young talent entering the sport.
World Boxing, a new federation founded in 2023, aims to take over and preserve Olympic boxing. Its president, Boris van der Vorst, is hopeful but acknowledges the urgency of the situation. He believes that if the sport can unite under this new governing body, the IOC may still include boxing in the 2028 Los Angeles Games. The task now is to rebuild trust and demonstrate that boxing deserves to remain a part of the Olympic movement.
The stakes are high, and the coming months will be crucial in determining whether Olympic boxing can survive and thrive once again.
