OCA backs Asian Boxing
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 02 Jan 2025
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has officially recognized the newly-organized Asian Boxing as the accredited supervisor of the sport at the SEA and Asian Games, a move that brings World Boxing much closer to achieving its goal of gaining IOC’s nod as an affiliate international federation for the Olympics.
ABAP chairman Ricky Vargas said OCA’s decision was announced during Asian Boxing’s first Board meeting which he chaired via zoom last Sunday. Asian Boxing was formed to align with World Boxing and is distinct from the Asian Boxing Confederation (ASBC) which is linked to the discredited International Boxing Association (IBA). Vargas said he expects ASBC to eventually disintegrate since the major member nations have joined Asian Boxing. IBA, however, refuses to go away despite losing recognition from IOC due to charges of financial irregularities and questionable governance, putting up a $10 million fund to entice organizations, including ASBC, to participate in its competitions.
IOC has removed boxing from the Olympic calendar starting in 2028 but is leaving the door open for reinstatement. The condition is a new international federation must be recognized by IOC to take over from IBA. IOC has supervised boxing in the last two Olympics but won’t do it in Los Angeles. World Boxing was formed in April 2023 to fill the void left by IBA and preserve the sport in the Olympics. It now has 60 members and after holding congresses in Frankfurt and Colorado Springs, will stage its third convention in India late this year.
Former WBC supermiddleweight champion and 1988 Olympic bronze medalist Richie Woodhall said removing boxing from the Olympics would be “a massive blow to the sport.” He explained: “If the Olympics isn’t there, it will be hard to keep boxers as amateurs and they’ll turn pro too soon. I’m not against boxers turning pro because I did it myself but they need to turn pro at the right time.”
World Boxing president Boris van der Vorst of the Netherlands said he’s confident IOC recognition is imminent. “World Boxing has established relations with IOC and has developed a pathway to ensuring that boxing is restored in 2028,” he said, quoted by Matt Bozeat in the London weekly publication Boxing News. “It would be devastating for everyone connected with the sport at all levels and in every part of the world (if boxing is left out of the Olympics). Fewer people will come into the sport at the grassroots and there will be less opportunities for boxers at the elite levels of both amateur and professional boxing. It would be a disaster that we cannot allow to happen.”
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts and Ju-jitsu in Thailand SEA Games
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 06 Dec 2025Mapua, IIEE Singapore and IM Concio wins the 7th IIEE ANC Cup co-awarded by GM Torre
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 06 Dec 2025Pontinos to see action in PH Jetski in SEA Games
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 06 Dec 2025Pitbull vs. Roach Jr & Co-Headliner Foster vs. Fulton Make for Solid PPV
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 06 Dec 2025Weights from Philadelphia
Sat, 06 Dec 2025MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED WITH MASOUD AND McGRAIL SET TO BATTLE
Sat, 06 Dec 2025Herlan Gomez, Jason Moloney Make Weight for WBC Australasia Bantamweight Battle in Australia
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 05 Dec 2025OLYMPIC BOXING 5: 1928 OLYMPICS AT AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
By Maloney L. Samaco, Fri, 05 Dec 2025MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 05 Dec 2025Class of 2026 Announced in Canastota
Fri, 05 Dec 2025Thailand’s Niyomtrong “Knockout CPF” Decisions Junior Zárate, Becomes World Champion Again
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 05 Dec 2025WORLD RANKED FILIPINO BOXERS AS OF DECEMBER 2025 BY THE RING, WBC, WBA, IBF, AND WBO
By Maloney L. Samaco, Fri, 05 Dec 2025Shinard Bunch Takes on John Paul Magalong on Tuesday, January 13th at The UFC Gym North Brunswick in North Brunswick, NJ
Fri, 05 Dec 2025Severino and Mendoza win Blitz Asian Chess Championship for Players with Disabilities
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 05 Dec 2025Herlan Gomez Departs for Australia for Moloney Fight Saturday on DAZN
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 04 Dec 2025