Paris 2024 medallist Lewis Richardson and Tokyo gold winners Galal Yafai and Lauren Price applaud IOC’s decision to restore boxing to the Olympic Games
GB Boxing and a host of previous Olympic medallists have welcomed the decision by the 144th Session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today to restore boxing to the sport programme of the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 (LA28).
The decision follows the recent decision by the Executive Board of the IOC to grant World Boxing provisional recognition as the International Federation (IF) within the Olympic Movement governing the sport of boxing at world level. It means that World Boxing will be the IF responsible for organising the qualification pathway and the boxing tournament at LA28.
The Performance Director of GB Boxing, Rob McCracken said: “This is absolutely fantastic news for all of the boxers in our squad and for every young male and female boxer in gyms in England, Scotland and Wales as it means that they can still have that dream of one day competing at the Olympic Games.
“It has been challenging at times for us to operate the World Class Programme with the uncertainty that has surrounded the sport, but the boxers and the staff have done a great job of staying focused and getting on with it. This will give everyone a big boost as it means we can now progress with the certainty of knowing that boxing will be at LA28 which is brilliant news for all of our boxers, everyone connected with our World Class Programme and everyone involved in boxing around the world that wants to see it continue to be a part of the Olympic Movement.”
Lewis Richardson, who won Team GB’s most recent Olympic medal in boxing, when he claimed light-middleweight bronze at Paris 2024, said: “This is fantastic news for boxing and for every young fighter dreaming of Olympic glory.
“The Olympics is the pinnacle of our sport and keeping it in the Games ensures that future generations have the same opportunities that inspired me on my Olympic journey.
“To now have this confirmation is a huge boost for the sport and provides everyone involved with clarity so they can firmly set their sights on LA 2028, knowing that for all their hard work and dedication, the end goal is now officially in sight.”
Galal Yafai, who won flyweight gold at Tokyo 2020, commented: “The Olympics gave me one of the best moments of my life with me winning a gold medal. It’s where dreams are made, and I know how much this decision will mean to young boxers aiming for their own Olympic journey.
“There was real concern about boxing’s future, so to have it confirmed for LA 2028 is massive. This sport has given me everything I could have dreamed of and I’m glad the next generation will now still have the chance to chase their own Olympic glory.”
His fellow gold Tokyo 2020 gold medallist and now WBC, WBA, IBO and The Ring welterweight World Champion, Lauren Price, added: “Competing at the Olympic Games was always my dream and nothing I achieve in my professional career will ever top the achievement of winning gold at Tokyo 2020.
“It is what inspired me to take up the sport in the first place and has given me a platform that means I am now able to enjoy a successful career as a professional boxer. Restoring boxing for LA28 means that other boxers can continue to do the same and keeps the Olympic dream alive. It is fantastic news for boxers, boxing and the Olympic Movement.”
GB Boxing’s Chief Executive, Matt Holt, who is also a Vice President of World Boxing, said: “This is great news for all of our boxers and staff and all of the young boxers throughout England, Scotland and Wales that are inspired by the thought of competing at the Olympic Games. Those young boxers in gyms across Great Britain are the GB boxers of the future and today’s decision means the Olympic dream continues for all of them.
“While we always kept an optimistic outlook, as we knew the excellent work that World Boxing was doing to keep boxing in the Olympic Movement, it is still a big relief to hear the news that boxing will definitely be at LA28. It brings certainty to every aspect of our work and I am sure it will provide a massive boost to all of the boxers in the GB Boxing gym as they can now look forward with confidence and focus all of their efforts on making sure they qualify for LA28.”
The President of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst, added: “This is great day for boxers, boxing and everyone connected with our sport, at every level, across the world.
“This outcome has been achieved by a massive team effort by a huge number of people in every part of the world and would not have been possible without the hard work and commitment of all of the National Federations, boxers, coaches, officials and boxing leaders that have worked together to enable this to happen. I would like to personally thank each and every one of them for their support and determination to ensure boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic Movement.
“World Boxing is very grateful to the IOC for the faith they have placed in our organisation by restoring boxing to the programme for LA2028, and I can reassure them that we will do everything in our power to ensure that we operate to the highest standards of governance and transparency and deliver sporting integrity.
“World Boxing understands that being part of the Olympic Games is a privilege and not a right and we are determined to be a trustworthy and reliable partner that will adhere to and uphold the values of the Olympic Movement.
“There is still a lot of work to do, and everyone at World Boxing is committed to continuing to work together and doing everything within our power to deliver a better future for our boxers and for our sport.”
GB Boxing was one of the first organisations to join World Boxing and the National Governing Bodies for boxing in England, Scotland and Wales are all members.
World Boxing held its first formal meeting with the IOC in May 2024 and on 26 February 2025, it was granted provisional recognition by the IOC as the International Federation (IF) within the Olympic Movement governing the sport of boxing at world level.
Further information on World Boxing is available at www.worldboxing.org.
