To Stay Olympic, India Punches Out of IBA, Joins New World Boxing

In an effort to fight the danger to the sport's Olympic future, the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) broke away from the suspended IBA on Friday and joined the breakaway World Boxing. Months prior, the International Olympic Committee had threatened once more to exclude boxing from the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles if national federations persisted in their support of the International Boxing Association (IBA).

BFI President Ajay Singh stated in a press statement, "We are thrilled to join World Boxing because it is absolutely vital to the stainability of boxing that it retains its Olympics status."

Singh expressed his eagerness to collaborate closely with the WB Executive Board in order to "deliver a brighter future for boxers worldwide" and "shape the future development of the sport." In order to maintain boxing's centrality to the Olympic movement, World Boxing was established in April 2023 and is led by former IBA presidential candidate Boris van der Vorst.

"We are excited to welcome the BFI into the expanding World Boxing family. India is a very important country in international boxing." Van der Vorst remarked,

"This is an extremely exciting development that will significantly increase our presence in Asia. I look forward to working closely with the BFI in order to deliver our shared goals."

With the first-ever formal meeting between WB and the IOC on May 7, the two organizations officially began working together to create a plan for boxing's continued inclusion in the Olympic Games.

Due to persistent problems with finances, sporting integrity, and governance, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) de-recognized the IBA in 2019.

The IOC will be in charge of boxing at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.