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≡ PIVOT POINT ≡
Time is running out for boxing to be included in the sports program of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER) saying in August that the decision will likely come early in 2025.
The Asian Boxing Confederation is once again trying to do something about it.
Since the expulsion of the International Boxing Association from the Olympic Movement in June 2023, the sport has been in limbo. The IOC itself took control of the boxing program for Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, but has said it will not continue to do so.
World Boxing, the new federation founded in November 2023, has slowly been adding members, with 44 now, but still well short of the number needed to be recognized as the new federation for the sport.
Worried by the potential failure to be included on the 2028 Olympic program, the Board of Directors of the 42-member Asian Boxing Confederation called once again for a special meeting concerning 2028:
“The Asian Boxing Confederation arranged its next Board of Directors Meeting on September 22 two days ago and the management decided to convene a new Extraordinary Congress due to the threat of the potential removal of boxing from the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
“The President of the Asian Boxing Confederation Mr. Pichai Chunhavajira [THA] and the Board of Directors decided to arrange the next ASBC Extraordinary Congress in Bangkok, Thailand on November 23 before the ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships.”
On 31 August, an Extraordinary Congress was held on the question of whether the ASBC should join World Boxing, with the Board’s motion to join rejected by 21-14 with one invalid vote.
Chunhavajira issued a statement later that day underscoring his goal of inclusion in 2028:
“I want to make it abundantly clear that our commitment to the Olympic Charter remains unshakeable. We will fight with everything we have to ensure that boxing retains its rightful place at the LA2028 Games. The Olympic spirit is deeply intertwined with the essence of our sport, and we will not allow it to be compromised.
“In light of the decisions made today, I have chosen to resign from my position on the IBA Board of Directors. This was not an easy decision, but it is necessary. My full focus and energy will now be devoted to one goal: securing the future of boxing in the Olympics and ensuring that the ASBC continues to play its long-standing, vital role in this sport.
“We stand at a crossroads, but I am confident that we have many paths available to us. Together, we will explore every option, overcome every obstacle, and do whatever it takes to save not just Asian boxing, but the entire global boxing community. This is a fight we cannot afford to lose, and I am fully committed to seeing it through.”
So now the issue of 2028, not specifically World Boxing, will be the focus of the 23 November Congress.
There are several Asian federations which have joined World Boxing, but the ASBC has not and most of its members have not. A mass shift would be a major shift in favor of World Boxing and its recognition for 2028.
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BoxingScene.com interviewed USA Boxing Executive Director Mike McAtee, who has been assisting World Boxing with its development. McAtee explained the process:
“World Boxing is working to meet IOC requirements, such as anti-doping regulations, financial transparency, and integrity in the field of play. We’re optimistic that a decision on boxing for LA 2028 will be made by the IOC in early 2025.
“There are around 35 to 40 requirements that need to be met, as outlined by the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF). These include things like selection procedures for officials, governance standards, and financial transparency. For example, World Boxing will host an international event, the world qualifier in Colorado later this year, to demonstrate our compliance with these requirements. Each of these elements is necessary to ensure the sport is governed with integrity and transparency, and we are working diligently to fulfill all of them.”
World Boxing also announced its first World Championship tournament, for men and women together, to be held in Liverpool (GBR) from 4-14 September 2025.
At the same time, McAtee noted that his own federation continues to grow:
● “USA Boxing has grown tremendously since 2016. When I started, we had about 38,000 members and 1,800 boxing gyms. Today, we have over 62,000 members and 2,600 gyms.”
● “Growing the sport at the grassroots level is critical. The larger your base, the greater your chances of developing high-performance athletes. Since 2016, we’ve increased our membership, and now we’re even expanding into adaptive boxing programs and partnering with esports platforms like Virtual Reality Golden Gloves.”
He added, “Boxing may be a niche sport, but it has immense potential for health benefits and building confidence in young people … We know that growth won’t happen overnight, but we’re dedicated to showcasing boxing’s value as a sport and a community-builder.”
Observed: The sport has about six months to determine its Olympic future and the second ASBC Extraordinary Congress on 23 November looks to be a potential pivot point, one way or the other.
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