Abbreviation | WB |
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Formation | 13 April 2023 |
Type | Sports federation |
Headquarters | Renens, Lausanne, Switzerland |
Membership | 42 national federations |
President | Boris van der Vorst |
Vice-President(s) | Ryan O’Shea Dinah Glykidis |
Website | worldboxing |
World Boxing is an international sports organization regulating amateur (Olympic-style) boxing. It was formed in response to the breakdown in relations between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Russian-led International Boxing Association (IBA), over governance and integrity problems in the latter.[1]
World Boxing is campaigning to keep boxing as an Olympic sport after the 2024 Summer Olympics, when the IOC's special qualification arrangements expire:[2] they specifically claim that they are the only international boxing federation that can keep boxing in the Summer Olympics.[3]
A number of boxing national federations formed the Common Cause Alliance (CCA)[4] as part of an effort to keep boxing in the Summer Olympics calendar from the 2024 edition in Paris onwards.[5]
The alliance was formed in early 2022 by 18 federations. It called for the International Boxing Association to disclose its financial dealings with Russian energy giant Gazprom, determine the detrimental effects of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and for IBA to take stronger action against the Russian Boxing Federation.[6]
In May 2022, Dutch official Boris van der Vorst, who heads the group was ruled ineligible to challenge incumbent IBA president and Russian official Umar Kremlev in an election.[6] In September 2022, an extraordinary IBA congress decided against holding any new election, thus allowing Kremlev to retain the presidency. By December 2022, the membership of the Common Cause Alliance has grown to 25 federations.[7]
World Boxing was launched in April 2023 with its interim board including officials from member organizations of the Common Cause Alliance.[2][8][9]
In August 2024, the International Olympic Committee has reportedly said that it would recognize World Boxing if it garner at least 50 members. Filipino official Ricky Vargas said that the body already has 51 member countries.[10]
World Boxing currently has 42 member federations - 1 from Africa, 15 from the Americas, 8 from Asia, 13 from Europe, and 5 from Oceania.[11]
In addition, GB Boxing is an associate member: this is because the governance of amateur boxing in the United Kingdom, like cricket, football and rugby union, is devolved to the Home Nations.[18]
ASOIF (30+2) Summer Olympics Federations |
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AIOWF (7) Winter Olympics Federations | |
ARISF (39) Others recognised by IOC |
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AIMS (20) Others in SportAccord |
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former GAISF observer members (11) | |
Others |
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Africa |
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Americas | |
Asia | |
Europe | |
Oceania | |