GB boxing joins breakaway governing body

The International Olympic Committee banned the IBA in 2019 over governance issues and alleged corruption.

In Summary

• World Boxing will seek IOC recognition.

• The move to establish World Boxing has been made with the sport's place at the 2028 Olympics under threat.

Derek Chisora (L) defends a right hook from Kubrat Pulev in a past bout.
Derek Chisora (L) defends a right hook from Kubrat Pulev in a past bout.
Image: /FILE

Great Britain has joined a breakaway international boxing federation in a bid to help counter a threat to the sport's Olympic future.

World Boxing has been established in response to the "persistent issues" surrounding the Olympic sport's existing governing body, the International Boxing Association (IBA).

The International Olympic Committee banned the IBA in 2019 over governance issues and alleged corruption.

World Boxing will seek IOC recognition.

However, it said it has yet to make contact with the IOC, and provisional recognition could take up to two years, making it a "stretch" to be recognised in time for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The move to establish World Boxing has been made with the sport's place at the 2028 Olympics under threat.

Among five pledges, the new organisation says it will "keep boxing at the heart of the Olympic movement" and "ensure the interests of boxers are put first".

It will be led by an interim board made up of representatives from Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Sweden and the United States.

Wales' Olympic middleweight champion Lauren Price is one of two athletes' representatives.

Matthew Holt, chief executive of GB Boxing, said: "It is vital that boxing continues to remain at the heart of the Olympic movement and to achieve this we need to re-establish a relationship of trust between those that the govern the sport and all of its stakeholders.

"World Boxing aims to deliver this by creating a financially transparent organisation with strong governance structures that delivers sporting integrity and fair competition and acts in the interest of boxers and the sport."