In a bid to secure boxing's place in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, former world champion Gennady Golovkin has taken on a pivotal role within World Boxing. The organization announced that Golovkin will head an 'Olympic commission' tasked with demonstrating to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that the newly established group is capable of overseeing the boxing competitions at the upcoming Games.
Golovkin expressed his commitment to preserving boxing as an Olympic sport, emphasizing that it is a top priority for him and the sports world at large. He also highlighted his intention to collaborate closely with the IOC to ensure that boxing upholds the Olympic values of honesty, fairness, and transparency.
Having clinched an Olympic silver medal in 2004, Golovkin went on to enjoy a successful professional career as a world middleweight champion, culminating in a record of 42-2-1. Following his retirement, he assumed the role of president of Kazakhstan's national Olympic committee.
The status of boxing in the Olympics has been uncertain, with the IOC setting a deadline for the establishment of a credible governing body in the sport. After a period of turmoil involving the International Boxing Association, the IOC took charge of the last two Olympic tournaments and expressed its desire to hand over the organization of future events to a suitable entity.
World Boxing boasts 44 national governing bodies as members, including prominent countries like the United States, Britain, and India. Recent additions to its membership roster include Japan and Algeria, the latter being the home federation of Paris Olympic gold medalist Imane Khalif.
While Kazakhstan's national boxing federation is not currently a member of World Boxing, it confirmed its application for membership coinciding with Golovkin's appointment. Kazakhstan has a strong track record in Olympic boxing, consistently ranking among the top medal-winning nations in the sport and would become World Boxing's 10th member in Asia.
With Golovkin at the helm, World Boxing is poised to navigate the complexities of Olympic boxing governance and demonstrate its readiness to oversee the sport at the highest level of competition.
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