Due to the participation of Russian and Belarusian boxers, the Lithuanian Boxing Federation was one of the first National Federations to boycott the IBA World Championships.
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Lithuanian Boxing Federation (LBF) President Darius Šaluga has given the newly formed World Boxing organization a cautious welcome but has not yet made a decision to join the governing body. In light of the current dispute between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Boxing Association (IBA), World Boxing was established earlier this month with the goal of preserving the sport’s status in the Olympic Games.
Due to the participation of Russian and Belarusian boxers, the Lithuanian Boxing Federation was one of the first National Federations to boycott the IBA World Championships. Boxer Gabrielė Stonkutė was unable to defend her light heavyweight championship, which she had won in the World Championships in Istanbul the year before. Nonetheless, Šaluga is skeptical of the LBF joining World Boxing, whose interim Executive Board includes members from Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Sweden, and the United States.
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Lithuanian Boxing Federation’s President Šaluga said in an interview with Lithuanian National Radio and Television that it was too soon to decide Lithuania’s position on the new organization because it presently raises more uncertainties than solutions. He further stated that the LBF is keeping an eye on the situation and is prepared to work with others and make judgments as soon as they receive more specific information. Šaluga emphasized that making a decision would not be easy and would need speaking with several organizations and getting legal assistance.
According to Šaluga, World Boxing‘s primary goal should be to gain IOC recognition, as the organization is unlikely to succeed without it. Although World Boxing asserts it is not in direct rivalry with the IBA, it does threaten the sport’s long-standing regulating organization. The IOC and the IBA, both headed by the Russian Umar Kremlev, are engaged in a protracted dispute over the IBA’s governance.
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One of the IOC’s key concerns is the IBA’s financial reliance on the Russian state-owned energy company Gazprom. Boxing will be governed by the IOC at the Paris 2024 Olympics for the second time in a row. There are growing concerns about its inclusion at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, where it was not initially included in the program. Given the uncertain prospects of the IBA, Šaluga sees the launch of World Boxing as a positive step.
The Lithuanian Boxing Federation’s chief Šaluga criticized the ruling body for disobeying the IOC’s instructions and charged them with making decisions despite objections from the international community against aggressive nations. Šaluga claims that World Boxing may act as a substitute and assist prevent boxing’s approaching exclusion from the Olympic Games if it can gain finance and support from significant players. This scenario might either cause the IBA to cave or provide actual optimism for countries who oppose certain governments’ aggressive behavior.
