IOC Makes a Key Move for Boxing's Olympic Hopes

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has granted provisional recognition to World Boxing, a new governing body for the sport. This decision aims to keep boxing in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. World Boxing, founded in 2023, emerged as a breakaway from the International Boxing Association (IBA). Gennady Golovkin, leading the commission to establish World Boxing, said: "Receiving provisional Olympic recognition from the IOC is an important achievement and demonstrates that our sport is on the right path. This decision brings us one step closer to our main goal—preserving boxing at the Olympic Games." The IOC reported that 62% of boxers from last year's Paris Olympics were affiliated with World Boxing.

The IBA was suspended in 2019 over governance and financial issues. It was expelled from the Olympic movement in 2023. The IOC independently organized boxing events at the Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024 Games. It sought a new partner for 2028. The IBA, led by Umar Kremlev, is in a dispute with the IOC, particularly concerning women's boxing eligibility rules. They focus on gold medalists Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting. The IBA plans to file criminal complaints against the IOC in the US, France, and Switzerland. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)