In the wake of the tumultuous Paris Olympics, World Boxing is poised to undergo a significant expansion in its membership base, aiming to reach 50 national federations or more in the weeks following the conclusion of the games.
President Boris Van Der Vorst expressed his confidence in the sport’s potential to achieve a remarkable resurgence within the Olympic movement, emphasising the need for unity and a practical alternative to the Russian-dominated International Boxing Association, which has been excluded from the Olympic movement.
“There’s only one reason to join [World Boxing], and that’s to save our sport,” Van Der Vorst told the AP on Saturday.
“We have only one mission, and that is to keep boxing at the heart of the Olympic movement. We try to do what is best for the boxers and the national federations.” he added.
The move to expand the membership base comes amidst a power struggle for control of the sport and a gender controversy in the women’s ring.
World Boxing’s efforts to unify the sport and establish itself as a viable replacement for the International Boxing Association have been a focal point during the Paris Olympics, with Van Der Vorst actively engaging with boxing leaders and federation officials to further this objective.
The significance of this expansion is underscored by the ongoing efforts to safeguard the presence of boxing in the Olympics.
The International Olympic Committee’s decision to bar the International Boxing Association’s rights to run and organise the tournament has necessitated a new qualification system for Paris 2024, emphasising the sport’s evolving landscape and the imperative for a unified and stable governing body.
As World Boxing prepares to welcome an influx of new national federations, the sport’s potential for a remarkable comeback within the Olympic movement is poised to reshape the future of boxing on the global stage.
