THE national governing bodies (NGBs) for boxing in Scotland and Wales are among the latest cohort of five National Federations to have their applications to join World Boxing approved.
The other three nations are the Philippines, Suriname and US Virgin Islands.
It means World Boxing now has 27 members and includes all three home nations and GB Boxing, which is an associate member. They will all be eligible to take part in World Boxing’s inaugural Congress in Frankfurt Am Main on 25 November 2023 which will have more members than the equivalent event hosted by AIBA (now known as IBA) in London in 1946.
A statement by Boxing Scotland said: “The Boxing Scotland board of directors has, after extensive consultation and careful consideration, unanimously agreed to apply for membership of the newly created organisation, World Boxing.
“We do so in the expectation that World Boxing will honour its stated commitment to good governance, honesty, integrity, and transparency, and putting boxers first.
“We also do so in the hope that Olympic boxing will continue to be a cornerstone of the Games, as it has been since 1904 – fostering the careers of legends from Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and Lennox Lewis, to our very own Dick McTaggart and Josh Taylor.”
Announcing the latest cohort of members, World Boxing’s Secretary General, Simon Toulson said: “To be heading into our inaugural Congress with a minimum of 27 members of such high calibre is a major achievement for World Boxing and a sign of the desire for change that exists across the sport.
“Our members represent every continent where Olympic-style boxing takes place and includes many nations with a proud and distinguished history in the sport. Most importantly they are committed to creating a better future for boxing, based on the principles of integrity, honesty and excellence and ensuring the sport remains at the heart of the Olympic movement.”
World Boxing was launched in April 2023 and aims to ensure that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic movement. It will seek recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and plans to work constructively and collaboratively to develop a pathway that will preserve boxing’s ongoing place on the Olympic competition programme at Los Angeles 2028 and beyond.
