Wales welcomes the IOC’s Inclusion of boxing at the LA Olympics

Welsh Boxing is delighted that the International Olympic Committee has now included boxing as a recognised sport for the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028, which follows the IOC’s provisional recognition in February of World Boxing as the International Federation for boxing within the Olympic Movement.

“The IOC’s decision not only helps to guarantee boxing’s rightful place at the Olympics but it also helps support all of our efforts to support boxing’s vital presence in Welsh communities,” said Paul Thorogood, Chairman of Welsh Boxing. “The cohesiveness and sense of purpose that our boxing clubs bring to our communities in Wales is helping us to build a better tomorrow for our young people. The IOC’s decision will help boxing to maintain its very positive profile in Wales.”

Wales has had significant success at previous Olympic Games with Lauren Price winning gold in Tokyo 2020, becoming the first Welsh boxer to win an Olympic gold medal, Fred Evans memorably won a silver medal at the London 2012 Olympics and Ralph Evans took bronze at Munich 1972, becoming the first Welsh boxer to win an Olympic medal. 

“We feel that there is a little bit of Lauren, Fred and Ralph in all of our boxers and the inspiration that comes from being an Olympic sport will help us to build the Welsh champions of tomorrow,” said Thorogood. “Whenever we have a boxer enroute to the Olympics, as with Rose Eccles at Paris 2024, the level of energy and excitement goes up in our clubs and I am confident we will have genuine medal contenders at LA 2028.”

Welsh Boxing was one of the first national associations to join World Boxing and attended the inaugural World Boxing Congress in November 2023. World Boxing now has 84 members and the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England, will host the organisation's inaugural World Boxing Championships from 4 to 14 September 2025.