Performance Director, Rob McCracken and Olympic medallists Lauren Price and Cindy Ngamba hail decision as a positive step forward for Olympic boxing
GB Boxing has welcomed the decision by the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to grant World Boxing provisional recognition as the International Federation for boxing within the Olympic Movement.
Launched in April 2023, World Boxing was established in response to on-going concerns about the previous International Federation, whose failure to address the IOC’s longstanding concerns over sporting integrity, governance, transparency and financial management had placed boxing’s future as an Olympic sport in doubt.
In granting provisional recognition to World Boxing, the IOC identified the progress it had made in a number of areas which included:
- Membership growth (World Boxing has 78 members)
- The fact that 62% of the boxers and 58% of the medal winners from Paris 2024 are affiliated to National Federations that are members of World Boxing
- The implementation of processes including independent third-party oversight at competitions to ensure sporting integrity
- Evidence of rigorous governance structures and operating procedures
- Evidence of financial sustainability
- Implementation of rigorous anti-doping policies and processes
- Recognition of the jurisdiction of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)
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.
Following the announcement by the IOC, the Performance Director of GB Boxing, Rob McCracken said: “This is very good news for all of the boxers in our squad and a really significant step forward for Olympic boxing as a whole. We have always tried to have a positive outlook on things at GB Boxing because we can see that World Boxing is doing a good job, so it is great that the IOC has acknowledged this by provisionally recognising it as the International Federation for the sport.
“This will be a really big boost for the boxers in our squad and everyone connected with our World Class Programme (WCP) and indicates that things are travelling in the right direction in terms of boxing remaining in the Olympic Games.”
GB Boxing’s Chief Executive, Matt Holt, who was elected as a Vice President of World Boxing, at its inaugural Congress in November 2023, added: “This a very positive step forward, not just for GB Boxing and the men and women in our squad, but for boxers at every level of the sport in every part of the world. The Olympic Games provides inspiration to young boxers everywhere, from the grassroots to the elite level.
“World Boxing has done a very good job of stepping up to take on the mantle of being the International Federation for the sport and the IOC’s decision to provisionally recognise it is great news and hopefully another step on the path to seeing that boxing is restored to the Olympic programme.”
The news was also welcomed by Tokyo 2020 gold medallist Lauren Price, who is also a World Boxing Athlete Representative, as well as Cindy Ngamba, who became the first refugee athlete in history to win an Olympic medal when she earned bronze at Paris 2024.
Price said: “It was always my dream to compete at the Olympic Games and nothing I achieve in my professional career will ever top the achievement of winning gold at Tokyo 2020.
“Competing and winning gold at the Olympics Games provided me with a platform that is enabling me to enjoy a successful career as a professional boxer. For up-and-coming boxers to be denied this opportunity would be damaging for their careers and the sport as a whole.
“World Boxing has consistently fought to ensure that boxers can continue to have the chance to compete on the highest stage in sport at the Olympic Games and it is very positive to hear that the IOC has decided to provisionally recognise World Boxing.
“Hopefully this will be the first step toward seeing boxing restored to the Olympic programme which will be a massive boost for the sport and the hopes and dreams of male and female boxers at all levels across the world.”
Ngamba said: “Having the opportunity to compete for the Refugee Team at Paris 2024 has transformed my career and my life and shows how important it is that boxers continue to have the opportunity to take part in the Olympic Games.
“The thought of being able to compete at the Olympics was one of the things that kept me going in difficult times and inspired me to pursue a career in boxing. It would be hugely damaging to the careers of male and female boxers across the world if this opportunity did not exist for them, so the decision by the IOC to provisionally recognise World Boxing is really good news for the sport as it keeps the Olympic dream alive.”
