Astana (TDI): Gennadiy Golovkin, Kazakhstan’s two-time middleweight champion and 2004 Olympic silver medalist, has taken on a new role in the world of amateur boxing.
At the federation’s first-ever congress held in Rome on Sunday, he was elected as the new president of World Boxing.
Golovkin has already been serving as the head of Kazakhstan’s National Olympic Committee since last year. Now, as president of World Boxing, he will be responsible for steering the organization through the lead-up to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. He replaces Boris van der Vorst of the Netherlands, who served as the federation’s founding president.
Speaking after the vote, Golovkin said he felt energized by the responsibility. He mentioned that he is entering the role with “a new team and a fresh outlook,” adding that he has “many ideas and a clear plan to help restore boxing’s standing at the highest level.”
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World Boxing was created in 2023 amid growing unease over the governance and transparency issues surrounding the International Boxing Association.
The IOC eventually expelled the IBA from the Olympic movement that same year, citing persistent concerns over corruption and mismanagement.
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Since its formation, World Boxing has been working closely with the IOC to stabilize the sport’s Olympic future. By early this year, the federation had already welcomed 60 national boxing bodies as members.
Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated Golovkin on his appointment, noting that he is the first Kazakh to lead an international federation of an Olympic discipline.
Tokayev described the moment as a significant milestone, praising Golovkin’s global reputation and his long-standing contributions to boxing.
