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World Boxing is an international sports organization regulating amateur boxing. It was formed in response to the breakdown in relations between the International Olympic Committee and the Russian-led International Boxing Association over governance and integrity problems in the latter.[1]
 | |
| Abbreviation | WB |
|---|---|
| Formation | 13 April 2023 |
| Founded at |  Renens, Lausanne, Switzerland |
| Type | Boxing federation |
| Headquarters | Chemin du Levant 6, Renens, 1020, Switzerland |
Region served | Worldwide |
Membership | 55 national federations |
President |  Boris van der Vorst |
Vice-President(s) |
|
| Website | worldboxing |
World Boxing is campaigning to keep boxing as an Olympic sport after the 2024 Summer Olympics, when the IOC's qualification arrangements expired.[2] They claim they are the only international boxing federation that can keep boxing in the Summer Olympics.[3]
Common Cause Alliance
The International Boxing Association (IBA) had been suspended by the IOC in 2019 due to issues surrounding its governance and finances. Further scrutiny emerged under the presidency of Umar Kremlev—which began in 2020—including allegations of increased Russian influence (including close ties to president Vladimir Putin, a sponsorship agreement with state-owned oil company Gazprom, and having moved some of its operations to Russia), and concerns over governance, finances, and the integrity of officiating.[4][5][6][7][8]
Amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, 18 boxing national federations formed a consortium known as the "Common Cause Alliance" (CCA), which called for greater transparency on its finances (including the aforementioned Gazprom agreement), determine the detrimental effects of the invasion on the IBA, and for it to take stronger action against the Russian Boxing Federation. The CCA also pledged support for boxing to continue being a Summer Olympic sport.[9][10][11]
During the IBA Congress in May 2022, one day before a presidential vote, five candidates connected to the CCA were deemed ineligible by IBA's Interim Nomination Unit, accusing them of engaging in prohibited "collaborations" and campaigning outside of the designated period. One of the candidates—Dutch official Boris van der Vorst—filed for an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), stating that the candidates had been approved by the IBA's Disciplinary Committee, which had also approved the CCA's activities as being supportive of the IBA's mission.[12][13] The CAS overruled the IBA decision, resulting in an Extraordinary IBA Congress in September; however, the IBA's members blocked van der Vorst's proposal to challenge Kremlev's re-election.[5] By December 2022, the membership of the Common Cause Alliance has grown to 25 federations.[14]
Formation of World Boxing
In April 2023, the IOC stated that it needs to have a partner International Federation for boxing by early 2025, otherwise the sport's presence at the 2028 Summer Olympics would be at risk.[15] On 13 April 2023, World Boxing was launched as a competitor to the IBA, with its interim board including officials from member organizations of the CCA, and van der Vorst named inaugural president.[16][17][18] The IBA condemned World Boxing as a "rogue organization" whose sole purpose was to destroy the IBA's integrity, and threatened sanctions against national federations, athletes, and officials who participate in its events.[19][20]
On 22 June 2023, the IOC Executive Board voted to permanently withdraw its recognition of the IBA, citing a continued lack of progress on governance, finances, and addressing corruption since its original suspension.[21] On 7 May 2024, World Boxing held its first formal meeting with the IOC, discussing the future of Olympic boxing, and the criteria that would have to be met for the IOC to recognize World Boxing as the governing body for boxing.[22]
On 26 September 2024, it was announced that Kazakhstani Olympic medallist Gennadiy Golovkin would lead World Boxing's Olympic Commission, serving as a liaison between World Boxing and the IOC on matters relating to Olympic boxing.[23]
Anti-Doping Policies
On 2 October 2024, World Boxing announced a four-year agreement to delegate drug testing activities to the International Testing Agency (ITA).[24]
On 10 October 2024, World Boxing agreed to delegate adjudication on all anti-doping violations to the Anti-Doping Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS AAD).[25]
World Boxing Championships
On 17 September 2024, World Boxing announced the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England, would host the organisation's inaugural World Boxing Championships from 4 to 14 September 2025.[26][27][28][29]
U19 World Boxing Championships
On 19 June 2024, World Boxing announced the inaugural U19 World Boxing Championships to be held in Pueblo, Colorado from 25 October to 5 November 2024, held across 10 weight categories for both men and women.[30]
Member federation: "+GB" indicates GB Boxing, whose catchment area overlaps the Home Nations members.
World Boxing currently has 55 member federations - 3 from Africa, 16 from the Americas, 15 from Asia, 16 from Europe, and 5 from Oceania.[31][32]
In a report published 10 August 2024, Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines president Ricky Vargas told The Philippine Star that he believed that the IOC would recognise World Boxing if they admitted at least 50 members, and claimed that the body was about to pass that threshold with 51.[33] Kazakhstan filed a submission to join on 26 September.[34] During Panam Sports' general assembly on 3 October 2024, World Boxing stated that it had 48 members (including four unannounced members), with 10 under review.[35]
On 31 October 2024, World Boxing announced the admission of Andorra, Belgium, Iraq, Lithuania, Madagascar, Kyrgyzstan and Thailand, expanding its presence in Asia, and bringing its total to 51 federations.[36] This was followed on 4 November 2024 by the admission of Guatemala, Laos, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan—which had won the most gold medals in boxing at the 2024 Summer Olympics.[37]
Africa
Americas
Argentina (Argentinean Boxing Federation)[40]
Barbados (Amateur Boxing Association of Barbados)[3]
Bermuda (Bermuda Boxing Federation)[41]
Brazil (Confederação Brasileira Boxe)[40]
Canada (Canadian Amateur Boxing Association)[40]
Cayman Islands (Cayman Islands Boxing Association)[41]
Dominica (Federación Dominicana de Boxeo)[3]
Ecuador (Ecuadorian Boxing Federation)[42]
Guatemala (Federación Nacional de Boxeo de Guatemala)[37]
Honduras (Federación Hondureña de Boxeo)[40]
Jamaica (Jamaica Boxing Board of Control)[39]
Panama (Panamanian Boxing Federation)[43]
Peru (Peruvian Sports Boxing Federation)[3]
Suriname (Suriname Boxing Federation)[44]
United States (USA Boxing)[45]
US Virgin Islands (US Virgin Islands Boxing Federation)[44]
Asia
Bhutan (Bhutan Boxing Federation)[42]
Chinese Taipei (Chinese Taipei Boxing Association)[42]
India (Boxing Federation of India)[46]
Iraq (Iraq national amateur boxing athletes)[32]
Japan (Japan Boxing Federation)[38]
Kazakhstan (Kazakhstan Boxing Federation)[37]
Kyrgyzstan (Kyrgyz Republic Boxing Federation)[32]
Laos (Lao national amateur boxing athletes)[37]
Mongolia (Mongolia Amateur Boxing Association)[43]
Pakistan (Pakistan Boxing Federation)[42]
Philippines (Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines)[44]
Singapore (Singapore Amateur Boxing Association)[3]
South Korea (Boxing Association of Korea)[41]
Thailand (Thailand Boxing Association)[32]
Uzbekistan (Uzbekistan Boxing Federation)[37]
Europe
Andorra (Andorran Boxing Federation)[32]
Belgium (Vlaamse Boks Liga)[32]
Czech Republic (Czech Boxing Association)[39]
Denmark (Danish Boxing Association)[43]
England (Boxing Association of England)[45]
Finland (Finnish Boxing Federation)[39]
Germany (Deutscher Boxsport-Verband)[40]
Iceland (Hnefaleikasamband Íslands)[39]
Italy (Italian Boxing Association)[41]
Lithuania (Lithuania Boxing Federation)[32]
Netherlands (Nederlandse Boksbond)[45]
Norway (Norwegian Boxing Federation)[39]
Scotland (Boxing Scotland)[44]
Sweden (Swedish Boxing Federation)[40]
Wales (Welsh Boxing)[44]
In addition, 
GB Boxing is an associate member: this is because the governance of amateur boxing in the United Kingdom, like cricket, football and rugby union, is devolved to the Home Nations.[45]
Oceania
Australia (Boxing Australia Limited)[45]
Fiji (Fiji Amateur Boxing Association)[42]
French Polynesia (Polynesian Boxing Federation)[43]
New Zealand (Boxing New Zealand)[45]
Tuvalu (Tuvalu Amateur Boxing Association)[47]
- Boris van der Vorst (2023–present)
- Elite World Boxing Championships
- World Boxing Cup
- World Boxing Challenge
- U19 World Boxing Championships
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