Oleksandr Usyk, the world's best heavyweight, has voiced his concerns about the state of amateur boxing at the elite level and has called for significant changes to be made. The 2012 Olympic Games gold medalist is currently in Paris to show his support for Ukrainian athletes, particularly its boxers.
Amateur boxing faced a potential exclusion from the Paris schedule due to a dispute between the banished governing body of amateur boxing and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOC had warned that boxing might be removed from the 2028 Olympic Games if there were no improvements in the international governance of amateur boxing.
The IOC's decision to strip the International Boxing Association (IBA) of its authority to oversee Olympic boxing tournaments in Tokyo 2021 and Paris was based on concerns regarding the governance of the sport and the integrity of refereeing and scoring in bouts.
During a Q&A session at Ukraine House, Usyk expressed his frustration with the current state of international amateur boxing, stating, 'For many years, there has been a desire to change the boxing system, which is rotten on an international level. So, we just need to work. No promises need to be made; we need to act.'
Despite the challenges, Usyk remains hopeful about boxing's future in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. He believes that boxing will ultimately be included in the Olympic program, emphasizing the importance of taking concrete actions to address the existing issues.
Usyk also highlighted the resilience of Ukrainian athletes, noting that despite the ongoing conflict with Russia, the country's delegation at the summer Games includes 140 athletes competing in 26 sports, with three boxers participating in Paris.
Reflecting on Olgha Kharlan's bronze medal win in women's individual sabre fencing, Usyk expressed his confidence in her abilities, stating, 'My personal wish was, and I probably knew, that Olga is one of those people who would bring a medal for Ukraine.'
