Gennady Golovkin elected president of World Boxing, vows to restore trust and Olympic pathway
Former middleweight world champion Gennady Golovkin has been elected unopposed as president of World Boxing, pledging to rebuild trust in the sport and secure Olympic recognition for boxing.
Gennady Golovkin, the former middleweight world champion from Kazakhstan, has been elected president of World Boxing, vowing to rebuild trust in the sport.
The 43-year-old stood unopposed at the federation's annual congress in Rome, succeeding Dutch official Boris van der Vorst.
World Boxing was formed to secure Olympic recognition after provisional IOC recognition in February and will run boxing at the Los Angeles 2028 Games. The IOC previously oversaw boxing at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics after the expulsion of the International Boxing Association (IBA).
Golovkin said he intends to restore boxing's long-term place in the Olympic programme. He added that with the support of athletes and federations, World Boxing can earn full IOC recognition and guarantee a place at LA 2028 and future Games.
Golovkin won Olympic silver in the middleweight division at Athens 2004. He also held world and Asian amateur titles before turning professional, where he held a middleweight world title and established himself as one of the sports fiercest competitors.
Although not officially retired, he has not fought since losing the third bout of his trilogy with Saul Canelo Alvarez in September 2022. His professional record stands at 45 fights with two losses to Alvarez and a controversial draw in their first meeting.
He outlined a four-point blueprint built around: putting athletes first, maintaining integrity, embracing innovation, and ensuring financial stability and development for the sport.
The IOC suspended the IBA in 2019 over governance, financial, refereeing and ethical concerns. Golovkin emphasized unity and said boxing must be a federation that athletes and the Olympic family can trust.
Van der Vorst, elected in 2023, stepped aside and did not seek a second term.
Four-point plan
- Put athletes first
- Uphold integrity
- Encourage innovation
- Ensure financial stability and development
Golovkin's leadership signals a renewed push to rebuild trust in boxing's governance and secure an Olympic pathway for the sport under World Boxing. BBC Sport
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