Russia has officially joined World Boxing

The Russian Boxing Federation has received official approval to join World Boxing. The decision was made by the organization’s Executive Board and became part of an expansion of the structure, which also included national federations from Belarus, Zambia, Cyprus, Mozambique, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, and Tonga.

Alexander Besputin, Secretary General of the Russian Boxing Federation, emphasized that the key priority for the organization remains the interests of athletes and the development of boxing as a global sport. According to him, the Russian side views participation in various international structures as an additional opportunity for athletes’ growth rather than as competing directions.

The Federation noted that Russian boxers will be able to continue competing in tournaments under the auspices of both World Boxing and the International Boxing Association, as well as in professional leagues. According to officials, this approach will allow athletes to gain diverse competitive experience and strengthen their positions on the global stage.

The move is of particular importance in the context of the Olympic cycle. Starting from 2025, World Boxing is responsible for organizing qualification tournaments for the 2026 Olympic Games. This means that participation in competitions under the organization’s umbrella becomes a mandatory condition for qualification for the Games.

Earlier, Armenia had already joined the structure, and its athletes have already competed in the youth tournament Futures Cup U19, which is part of the qualification system for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games. The new expansion of World Boxing, including Russia, could significantly influence the balance of power in international boxing in the coming years.