Boxing Canada, the national governing body for the sport, is the latest member association to quit the beleaguered International Boxing Association (IBA).
Boxing Canada said it will end its membership with the IBA and join the newly formed World Boxing, the rebel organization launched in mid-April in a bid to save the sport’s Olympic future.
The decision to leave the IBA and join World Boxing was made during a meeting convened on August 1, 2023, by the board of directors and the voting membership of Boxing Canada, who voted unanimously in both cases.
A statement by Boxing Canada read: “Moving forward, Boxing Canada is firmly committed to supporting World Boxing's continued efforts to secure provisional recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and attain recognition as the International Federation (IF) governing amateur boxing worldwide.”
Earlier this week World Boxing announced its first six members, USA Boxing, New Zealand Boxing, Boxing Australia, GB Boxing, England Boxing, and the Dutch Boxing Federation.
World Boxing claims that all six countries have completed a “rigorous application process” and have been approved as members by the Executive Board of World Boxing.
The application process for national federations to become members of World Boxing is overseen by Simon Toulson, World Boxing's secretary general.
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