Will Only Boxers from World Boxing Compete in LA 2028?

World Boxing Lands IOC Recognition: The Final Knockout for IBA's Olympic Dreams.The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has delivered a decisive blow—granting provisional recognition to World Boxing, marking the end of the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) Olympic involvement. Once the dominant force in Olympic boxing, IBA’s future with the Games is now officially over, while a new contender rises to take its place.


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IBA’s Fall from Grace: A Downward Spiral

For decades, IBA (formerly AIBA) held the reins of Olympic boxing. But its reign was marred by corruption, rigged judging, and financial mismanagement. The 2016 Rio Olympics was the beginning of the end, when allegations of biased officiating and fixed matches seriously damaged the sport’s credibility.

The 2019 IOC suspension followed by 2023's permanent expulsion effectively ended IBA's Olympic status, as it failed to address issues of governance and transparency. Despite these setbacks, IBA refused to reform, continuing its troubled course under the leadership of Russian president Umar Kremlev, who took on the IOC in an increasingly bitter standoff.
But the IOC made its position clear—IBA would no longer be part of the Olympic movement.

World Boxing’s Rise: A New Era for Olympic Boxing

Amid IBA’s downfall, a new force emerged—World Boxing. Founded in 2023 by a group of national boxing federations seeking a more transparent, fairer system, World Boxing quickly gathered nearly 80 member federations and vowed to restore credibility to the sport.

In March 2024, the IOC officially granted provisional recognition to World Boxing, setting the stage for the organization to govern Olympic boxing for the 2028 Los Angeles Games and beyond. With this decision, the IOC has clearly signaled that World Boxing will lead Olympic boxing into the future, leaving IBA in the past.


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Who Will Compete at LA 2028? IBA Fighters Could Be Excluded

While boxing’s inclusion in Los Angeles 2028 is not yet finalized, IOC President Thomas Bach has set out a clear rule:

· Only national boxing federations affiliated with IOC-recognized bodies will be allowed to nominate boxers for the Games.

This means that athletes from IBA-aligned federations could be barred from LA 2028 if their countries fail to switch allegiance to World Boxing.

With this ultimatum in place, national federations are faced with a critical choice:

· Stay with IBA and risk being locked out of the Olympics, or

· Join World Boxing and ensure Olympic eligibility for their athletes.

Given the stakes, it’s likely that many federations will make the shift to World Boxing, solidifying the end of IBA's Olympic participation.

IBA’s Final Round, World Boxing’s Victory

The battle for Olympic boxing’s future is over. IBA has been sidelined, and World Boxing has claimed victory. Though IBA may pursue legal action, the IOC’s decision is final—World Boxing will shape the future of Olympic boxing.

As the sport enters this new era, the challenge remains: Can World Boxing deliver on its promises to restore fairness and transparency? Time will tell.

But for now, one thing is clear—IBA's time is over, and World Boxing is ready to take the gloves off and lead Olympic boxing into the future.