BOXING is going to be a permanent fixture at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, as the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) executive board has endorsed its inclusion, capping off years of discussion. 

According to IOC President Thomas Bach, the executive board has already authorized boxing’s inclusion on the 2028 Olympic program, after his organization recognized World Boxing as the sport’s governing body. 

This brings an end to years of talks on how the sport will be administered, but the decision is yet to be approved by a full IOC Session of approximately 100 members later this week, which is considered to bring formality.

Filled the Void 

After parting with the International Boxing Association over financial, governance, and ethical issues, the IOC stepped in to oversee boxing contests for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and the Paris Olympics last year.

The IOC did not include the sport on the initial LA Olympics agenda, instead urging national boxing federations to establish a new and “reliable” international boxing body if they want to be included in 2028. 

While it has yet to be formally approved, the IOC president is sure that the recommendation will be approved by the session, allowing the sport to function properly during the LA Games.

“After the provisional recognition of World Boxing in February we were in the position to take this decision so that this recommendation has to go to the session,” Bach explained during a press conference. 

“I am confident the session will approve it, so that all the boxers of the world will have certainty that they can participate in the Olympic Games LA 2028 if their national federation is recognized by World Boxing,” he added.

Taking Huge Steps

Boris van der Vorst, president of World Boxing, believes that the decision is significant, given how popular the sport has been for decades and why it should remain in the Olympics.

“This is a very significant and important decision for Olympic boxing and takes the sport one step closer to being restored to the Olympic programme,” the president said in a statement.

“I have no doubt it will be very positively received by everyone connected with boxing, at every level throughout the world, who understands the critical importance to the future of the sport of boxing continuing to remain a part of the Olympic Movement,” he added.

The IOC said that only athletes whose national federations were members of World Boxing at the start of the qualification events for the 2028 Olympics could compete in Los Angeles. 

The committee also noted that national federations must join World Boxing at least two years before the Los Angeles Olympics in order for their athletes to be considered eligible for the Summer Games. 

It can be remembered that two Filipina boxers, Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas, won bronze medals at the Paris Olympics last year, capping off the best performance of the country ever in the quadrennial event.