As the Paris 2024 Olympics near their conclusion, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has issued an ultimatum concerning the future of boxing at the Games. With the International Boxing Association (IBA) stripped of its recognition in 2023 due to financial transparency issues and operational inefficiencies, the sport faces the real possibility of being excluded from the Olympics for the first time in over a century.

IOC President Thomas Bach has made it clear that a globally recognized organization must be established to govern boxing by early 2025. This decision follows concerns over the unclear sources of prize money for the World Championships and Continental Championships under the leadership of IBA President Umar Kremlev. The IBA’s troubles began when they were barred from organizing boxing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and their status was further diminished when their World Championship events in 2023 were not recognized as Olympic qualifiers.

The IOC, which had to take over the organization of boxing at Paris 2024, now demands a more stable and transparent body to oversee the sport. World Boxing, a newly established organization led by Boris Van Der Vorst, has emerged as the frontrunner to replace the IBA. However, with only 37 national federations under its wing compared to the IBA’s 198, World Boxing faces a significant challenge in meeting the IOC’s requirements, including delegating authority to continental federations.

The ongoing dispute between IBA and World Boxing has caused a deep division within the sport. The European Boxing Confederation (EUBC) has voiced its support for the IBA, while the Asian Boxing Confederation (ASBC) is considering whether to join World Boxing or remain aligned with the IBA. The outcome of this struggle will have far-reaching consequences for boxing’s Olympic future.

Despite the turmoil, the IOC has left the door slightly ajar for World Boxing, giving the organization until early 2025 to prove itself. As Boris Van Der Vorst stated, “Our mission is to save boxing and ensure it remains a core sport of the Olympics. We are working to protect the interests of the athletes and national federations.”

The fate of boxing at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics hangs in the balance. If the sport’s stakeholders cannot find common ground, boxing may be absent from the world’s biggest sporting event for the first time in 120 years.