USA Boxing is ending its International Boxing Association membership, the latest move to distance American amateur boxing from an international governing body that has been stripped of its Olympic recognition due to governance issues that have also put the sport’s place on the Olympic program at risk.
USA Boxing was a charter member of the IBA when it was formed in 1946 (then known as AIBA).
In a letter to USA Boxing members Wednesday, USA Boxing Executive Director and CEO Mike McAtee repeated concerns that he and USA Boxing have voiced for months, such as the governance issues that caused boxing to be left off the initial program for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Boxing, contested at every Olympics since 1920, can still be added to the 2028 Games at a later date.
The IOC also said in December that boxing could be dropped from the 2024 Paris Games due to recent IBA decisions.
USA Boxing is beginning the member application process for World Boxing, a breakaway group that its leadership helped form to rival the IBA.
“USA Boxing is committed to working tirelessly with World Boxing, like-minded national federations and worldwide Olympic-style boxing community to earn the privilege to be part of the Olympic Movement now and in the years to come,” McAtee wrote.
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