Boxing

Ireland urged to join World Boxing to keep Olympic dream alive

President Boris van der Vorst: ‘It would be very disappointing for Ireland if its men and women were not able to compete at a future Olympic boxing tournament’

Kellie Harrington in Sean McDermott Street, Dublin
Kellie Harrington with her two Olympic gold medals at last month's homecoming in Dublin. Picture by PA (Niall Carson/PA)
By Neil Loughran

THE president of World Boxing has urged Ireland to join forces with them in a bid to secure the sport’s Olympic future.

Although still relatively new to the scene, 42 national federations have left the International Boxing Association (IBA) – which saw recognition withdrawn by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) - to join World Boxing since its establishment in April 2023.

The IOC, which ran the boxing tournament at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 following the IBA’s suspension and subsequent derecognition, has left sport off the programme for the Los Angeles Games in 2028.

The IOC have stated if they can partner with a credible organisation, boxing will be restored in time for LA – but World Boxing’s bid to fill that void suffered a setback at the weekend when the influential Asian Boxing Confederation opted not to join at this stage.

Following a vote last year, taken at a chaotic EGM in Dublin’s National Stadium, Ireland also remains aligned to the IBA.

World Boxing president Boris van der Vorst has urged national federations, like Ireland, to join them to secure the sport's Olympic future
World Boxing president Boris van der Vorst has urged national federations, like Ireland, to join them to secure the sport's Olympic future

However, Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) president Sarah Keane said recently that the OFI will withdraw recognition of the IABA as Ireland’s national federation unless it links up with World Boxing.

And Boris van der Vorst, the Dutchman at the head of World Boxing, hopes to see the matter revisited as they set their sights on ensuring the sport takes pride of place at LA 2028.

“World Boxing understands the importance of Olympic boxing to Ireland and would welcome a membership application from the IABA,” he said.

“Olympic-style boxing faces many challenges, and I have no doubt that having successful, well-respected national federations, like the IABA, working co-operatively and collaboratively with World Boxing would be a significant benefit to the future development and direction of the sport.

“Likewise, I am sure that that it would be very disappointing for Ireland if its men and women were not able to compete at a future Olympic boxing tournament.

“However, the IOC could not have made its position on this any clearer so the message to all national federations is that if they want to have any chance of their boxers appearing at a future Olympic Games then they have to join World Boxing.”