IOC: Boxing earns spot on program at 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games

Boxing was approved for inclusion in the program for the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics on Thursday, following a unanimous vote from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), ending years of doubt over the sport's future at the Games.

The IOC last month granted provisional recognition to recently-organized governing body World Boxing, in a major step toward the sport's inclusion at the LA Games, and this week's decision at the 144th IOC Session ensured the sport's Olympic presence will continue.

"I thank you for the approval of having boxing back. We can look forward to a great boxing tournament," IOC President Thomas Bach said.

The boxing competition at the 2024 Paris Games was run by the IOC, after stripping the International Boxing Association (IBA) of recognition in 2023 over its failure to implement governance and finance reforms.

The IOC had not included boxing in the initial 2028 program, having urged national federations to create a new global governing body for the sport to replace the IBA.

World Boxing, which currently counts more than 80 national federations as members, was launched in 2023.

"This is a great day for boxers, boxing, and everyone connected with our sport at every level across the world," said World Boxing President Boris van der Vorst. "This outcome has been achieved by a massive team effort ... and would not have been possible without the hard work and commitment of all of the national federations, boxers, coaches, officials, and boxing leaders that have worked together to enable this to happen."

"World Boxing understands that being part of the Olympic Games is a privilege, and not a right, and we are determined to be a trustworthy and reliable partner that will adhere to and uphold the values of the Olympic Movement," he added.

The IOC has said only athletes whose national federations were members of World Boxing by the time of the start of the qualification events for the 2028 Summer Olympics will be able to compete in Los Angeles.