GB Boxing has welcomed the decision by the Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to propose that boxing is included at the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 (LA28), to the 144th Session of the IOC which will take place later this week (19-21 March 2025) in Costa Navarino, Greece.
It means that if the IOC Session votes to approve the EB’s proposal when it meets this week, boxing will be restored to the competition programme for LA28.
The Performance Director of GB Boxing, Rob McCracken said: “This is another important step on the road to boxing hopefully being included at LA28. It is very positive news, not just for all of the boxers in the GB Boxing squad, but for everyone connected with the sport, from the grassroots to the elite level, as it means that the inspiration and hope of one day competing at an Olympic Games can continue to be there for every young boy or girl that walks through the door of a boxing gym.”
The President of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst, added: “This is a very significant and important decision for Olympic boxing and takes the sport one step closer to being restored to the Olympic programme.
“I have no doubt it will be very positively received by everyone connected with boxing, at every level throughout the world, who understands the critical importance to the future of the sport of boxing continuing to remain a part of the Olympic Movement.
“On behalf of everyone at World Boxing I would like to thank the EB of the IOC for the trust they have placed in our organisation and we hope for a positive outcome when the IOC Session meets this week.
“World Boxing understands that being part of the Olympic Games is a privilege and not a right and I assure the IOC that if boxing is restored to the programme for LA28, that World Boxing is completely committed to being a trustworthy and reliable partner that will adhere to and uphold the values of the Olympic Charter.”
World Boxing was launched in April 2023 with a mission to ensure that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic movement.
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.
