Former world champion Gennady Golovkin has stepped into a prominent role within the World Boxing organization as they strive to ensure the inclusion of boxing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. World Boxing announced that Golovkin will be leading an “Olympic commission” with the goal of convincing the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that their organization, established last year, is capable of managing the boxing competitions at the upcoming Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
In a statement, Golovkin expressed the significance of preserving boxing as an Olympic sport, stating that it is a top priority for him and the sports community at large. He also reiterated his commitment to collaborating closely with the IOC to uphold boxing’s dedication to the Olympic values of integrity, fairness, and transparency.
Golovkin boasts an impressive boxing career, having won an Olympic silver medal in 2004 before transitioning to the professional circuit where he reigned as a world middleweight champion for an extended period. With a record of 42-2-1, Golovkin participated in highly lucrative fights during his career. Following his retirement, he assumed the role of president of Kazakhstan’s national Olympic committee.
The status of boxing in the Olympics remains uncertain as the IOC has set a deadline for the establishment of a credible governing body by early next year, following ongoing issues with the International Boxing Association. After suspending and ultimately removing the IBA from the Games, the IOC managed the last two Olympic boxing tournaments internally and expressed their preference to hand over the organization of the tournament to an external entity.
World Boxing currently boasts a membership of 44 national governing bodies, including prominent countries like the United States, Britain, and India. Recently, Japan and Algeria joined the organization, the latter being the home of Paris Olympic gold medalist Imane Khalif. Although Kazakhstan is not listed among the members, World Boxing stated that Golovkin anticipates national boxing officials from his home country to set an example by becoming full members, especially considering Kazakhstan’s historical success in Olympic boxing competitions. The country consistently ranks among the top nations in terms of medal count in Olympic boxing events.