A pair of British Olympic hopefuls admit it will be devastating for boxing to be omitted from the 2028 Los Angeles games.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) made the decision after an independent review of boxing at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro found evidence of "corruption, bribery and the manipulation of sporting results”. The decision means that the 2024 Games in Paris could be the last time boxing appears at the Olympics, unless the decision is overturned.
Ramtin Musah and Harris Akbar, 23, are confident in their chances of earning a spot for Team GB in 2024, but the pair recognise they could be the last generation to represent Britain in the ring at the Games. Musah thinks the Olympics is the end goal for any amateur boxer and fears that those younger than him are being stripped of that opportunity.
"It would be absolutely detrimental because I feel like the dream as an amateur boxer is to go to the Olympics and win gold," Musah told Mirror Fighting . "For it to be completely taken out of the equation, it would be heartbreaking. I feel like I am coming into my prime and I still have the opportunity to go to the 2024 games, whereas for some of these younger lads, the opportunity has come and been taken from them."
Boxers need to accumulate points by performing well at major continental tournaments to qualify for the Olympics, something Musah is adamant he can do in 2023. "I’ve still got around a year and a half, so as of next year, there will be qualifiers happening," he added. "There are some on now in Mexico and there will also be the European games, which are happening next summer. So there is enough next year for me to establish myself as an 80kg fighter for the Olympics."
Meanwhile, Akbar recognises that something had to be done about the review of the 2016 Games, but thinks that removing the sport from the Olympic programme was the wrong decision. Akbar and Musah have plans to turn professional long before the Los Angeles Games come around, but they sympathise with the younger boxers who have dreams of competing at the Olympics.
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"It’s a very complicated situation, the Olympics is the biggest amateur competition. There is nothing like it and everyone wants to be the Olympic champion," Akbar said. "I’m just really fortunate that they are including it in the next two years. Hopefully we can find a way around it and put it back in the 2028 games.
"The 2028 Olympics is for the up-and-coming boxers. I know a couple of younger lads in my hometown, their biggest dream is going to the Olympics. We are speaking out to try and get boxing back in for them. After 2024, I’m turning professional but it’s that next stage of people that we are worrying about."
