Boxing secures spot at 2028 Olympics amid governance changes

Boxing is officially set to feature at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, ending years of uncertainty surrounding the sport’s governance.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach announced on Monday that the IOC’s executive board had approved boxing’s inclusion in the 2028 Olympic program.

While the final decision still awaits approval from a full IOC session later this week, it is expected to be a mere formality.

The sport’s Olympic future had been in limbo after the IOC severed ties with the International Boxing Association (IBA) in 2019 due to governance, financial, and judging integrity concerns. As a result, the IOC directly oversaw boxing competitions at the Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024 Olympics.

However, a major breakthrough came last month when the IOC officially recognized World Boxing as the sport’s new governing body, paving the way for boxing’s return in 2028 under new leadership.