The International Boxing Association (IBA) believes that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is ignoring the results of the association's reforms since 2019, when the IOC stripped the IBA of its accreditation.
Recall that the IOC previously threatened to remove boxing from the 2024 Olympics program, pointing to the IBA's renewal of its sponsorship agreement with Gazprom.
We have been criticized for renewing the commercial partnership that was signed for the first time in 2021. It is clear that the baiting of IBA athletes will continue until full control of boxing is achieved. The discrimination against the IBA management and partners on the basis of nationality directly contradicts the Olympic Charter and only highlights the problem of manipulating the athletes and the sport for geopolitical purposes. That being said, given the threat of boxing being excluded from the Paris Olympics, the IBA will continue to reach out to the IOC senior management to de-escalate the current situation, in view of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
IBA statement
Recall that earlier this month, on the first day of the executive committee, there was a rally in front of the IOC headquarters in Lausanne in support of the IBA and keeping boxing in the Olympic program, led by Roy Jones, Jr.
Jones Jr. last stepped into the ring against his compatriot Mike Tyson in an exhibition bout. This confrontation lasted the entire distance and ended in a draw.
Jones Jr. last fought in the professional ring against his compatriot Scott Sigmon in February 2018. Roy won that fight via unanimous decision of the judges. He has 66 wins (47 by knockout) and nine losses under his belt.