Ex-champ up for the fight to save Olympic boxing

FORMER world middleweight champion Gennadiy Golovkin will take on a crucial role aimed at ensuring boxing remains a part of the Olympic Games.

World Boxing, a breakaway organisation founded in April 2023, have appointed Golovkin as chair of their Olympic Commission.

Golovkin, a 2004 Olympic silver medallist and current President of the National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan, finished his professional career with a 42 wins, two defeats and one draw.

In a statement Golovkin says it will be his “top priority” to preserve boxing’s status as an Olympic sport.

“For me personally, as well as for all the sports world, it is important to preserve boxing as an Olympic sport, and this will be my top priority. I also intend to work closely with the IOC (Independent Olympic Committee) on issues of boxing’s commitment to the Olympic values of honesty, fairness and transparency.

“I am confident that my experience as a professional athlete will help build systemic work within World Boxing, and through joint efforts we will be able to give boxing a new impetus to its development but there is still much to be done.”

Boxing faces a race against time to be part of the 2028 Games in Los Angeles with the IOC setting a deadline for next year. The IOC, however, have stated they want boxing to feature in four years’ time. During a press conference midway through the recent Paris Olympics a spokesman for the IOC said that the sport’s ‘social aspect’, the way in which it often makes an impact in deprived areas, was important to the Olympic movement.

The IOC insist, however, that a new international federation must be formed to arrange the next competition in 2028. World Boxing and its President Boris van der Vorst believe they can take on the challenge and insist they have the backing of the IOC.

The appointment of Golovkin adds strength to their case and van der Vorst is looking forward to working with the 42-year-old.

“Gennadiy is one of the most globally significant boxers of the last decade and to have him supporting our cause and using his experience, expertise and profile to work on behalf of World Boxing is a significant boost for our organisation.

“I look forward to working closely with him in delivering our mission to ensure boxing remains at the heart of of the Olympic Movement.”