The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) executive board has put forward the proposal for boxing’s inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics (LA28) to the 144th IOC Session, which is set to meet this week in Costa Navarino, Greece.
This follows a positive development for the sport, as the IOC granted provisional recognition to World Boxing in February 2025, replacing the International Boxing Association (IBA) as the governing body for the sport at international level.
Boxing’s path to inclusion in the LA28 Olympics has been a challenging one. It was initially excluded from the LA28 sports programme due to governance concerns surrounding the IBA. Following the withdrawal of the IBA’s recognition in June 2023, the inclusion of boxing in LA28 was put on hold. To ensure fair and transparent competition, the IOC set up a special task force to organise the Paris 2024 boxing events. The results were promising, with 68 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) participating, and a high number of NOCs medalling – the highest ratio of competing NOCs to medals in any sport at Paris 2024.
Now, with the provisional recognition of World Boxing, which represents 84 National Federations globally, the sport looks poised to be a part of the Olympic Games once again. The IOC’s decision to move forward with this proposal to the full IOC Session is a positive step towards boxing’s return to the Olympic programme.
India’s Boxing Stars Eager for LA28 Opportunity
For India, a probable inclusion of boxing in LA28 holds particular significance. India has made notable strides in the sport, securing three Olympic medals in boxing, all of them bronze. Vijender Singh won India’s first Olympic medal in boxing at Beijing 2008 followed by Mary Kom’s bronze at London 2012 and Lovlina Borgohain’s bronze at Tokyo 2020.
World Champion and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Nikhat Zareen would be India’s top pugilist if boxing makes the cut for LA28. Zareen, a two-time world champion, competes in the 50kg category and has established herself as one of the best in the world.
In addition to Zareen, several other Indian boxers have made their mark on the international stage and could feature prominently in LA28. On the men’s side, notable athletes include:
– Amit Panghal: A former world silver medallist, known for his skill in the 51kg category.
– Nishant Dev: A World Championships bronze medallist in the 71kg category.
– Mandeep Jangra: The first Indian boxer to win a professional world title, claiming the WBF super featherweight crown.
– Neeraj Goyat: A three-time WBC Asia title holder, WBC Asia Boxer of the Year, and the first Indian to earn a World Boxing Council rating.
The women’s boxing scene in India is also strong, with several top athletes aiming for a place in the LA28 Olympic Games:
– Nikhat Zareen: A two-time world champion and the top contender in the 50kg category.
– Lovlina Borgohain: A bronze medallist at the Tokyo Olympics and a world champion in the 75kg category.
– Preeti Pawar: The Asian under-22 champion in the 54kg category.
– Jaismine Lamboria: A rising star in the 57kg category.
For India’s top boxers, the final decision on boxing’s inclusion in LA28 will be critical. A positive outcome could open the doors for these athletes to showcase their talent on the Olympic stage once again. The final verdict from the IOC will have significant implications for India’s boxing future in the Olympic Games.
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