Category: 2023 Africa Qualification Tournament
Boxing Road to Paris qualification series comes to an end in Bangkok, Thailand.
03/06/2024
The 2nd World Qualification Tournament came to an end in Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday, assigning the last 51 quota places at stake in the Boxing Road to Paris qualification series.
The qualification pathway started in 2023, with the European Games, the Asian Games, the Pan American Games, the Pacific Games, and an ad-hoc African qualifier in Dakar serving as continental qualification stages. It then continued in 2024 with two World Qualification Tournaments – in Busto Arsizio, Italy, and Bangkok, Thailand – eventually providing every athlete with up to three different qualification opportunities.
Over 2,000 boxers from 172 NOCs, the Boxing Refugee Team, and Individual Neutral Athletes took part in the Boxing Road to Paris qualification series, totaling 2,115 bouts across seven tournaments in five continents over two years, with 239 quota places awarded. Nine Universality Places are to be confirmed at a later stage, and one additional place will be distributed to the IOC Olympic Refugee Team, completing the lineup of 249 boxers that will compete in the Paris 2024 Boxing Tournament.
Both the Boxing Road to Paris qualification series and the Olympic Games Paris 2024 boxing tournament are sanctioned and organized under the authority of the IOC Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU).
The list of qualified athletes is available here: https://boxing.athlete365.org/qualification-system-and-rules/ (scroll down to the “Allocated Paris 2024 Quota Places” section). Bangkok’s 51 quota places will be added once confirmed by the respective NOCs, with the deadline set for 20 June, according to the qualification system.
The Olympic Games Paris 2024 Boxing Tournament will run from the 27th of July through the 10th of August and will include 13 different weight categories (7 men’s and 6 women’s). The tournament will be hosted in two venues. The preliminary phases and the first semi-finals will be held at the North Paris Arena from the 27th of July to the 4th of August, while the final phases of the tournament, including all gold medal matches, will take place at the Roland-Garros Stadium from the 6th to the 10th of August. Find the full tournament schedule here: https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/schedule/boxing .
PBU Event Regulations updated – New version now available for download
15/05/2024
The Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU) “Event Regulations of the Olympic Boxing Qualifying Tournaments and the boxing competition at the Olympic Games Paris 2024” (the Paris 2024 Event Regulations) have been updated, with the implementation of minor changes and rewordings for the sake of clarity. The latest version of the Rules are available for download here: https://boxing.athlete365.org/qualification-system-and-rules/ . All changes from the previous version are tracked in the document, on page 39.
For context: In line with the mandate from the IOC Executive Board of delivering the Olympic Boxing Qualifying Tournaments and the boxing competition at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, Rules and regulations in place for Tokyo 2020 has been used as a baseline to minimise the impact on athletes’ preparation and guarantee consistency between Olympic Games. For the avoidance of doubt, these regulations are applicable only to the competitions under the authority of the PBU, namely the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and its qualification tournaments.”
IOC Statement on CAS decision regarding withdrawal of recognition of IBA
03/04/2024
The IOC welcomes the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which has dismissed the appeal filed with it by the International Boxing Association (IBA) against the IOC’s decision to withdraw recognition of the IBA.
Read the full IOC statement here: https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-statement-on-cas-decision-regarding-withdrawal-of-recognition-of-iba
Dakar’s Day 7: 8 More Quota Places Distributed, 13 Gold Medals Assigned on the Last Day
15/09/2023
The Boxing Road to Paris Africa qualification tournament came to a conclusion in Dakar, Senegal, today. The gold medal matches of all 13 Olympic boxing events (7 men’s events, 6 women’s events) took place at the Dakar Arena, in front of thousands cheering local spectators.
The Africa qualification tournament assigned a total of 18 Paris 2024 Olympic quota places – the qualification slots for the next Olympic Games – with 1 quota place available in each men’s event and in the women’s 75kg event, and 2 quotas available in all other women’s events. That means that the winners of today’s men’s events and the women’s 75kg event all received a qualification berth, while the finalists in all other women’s events had already claimed a quota yesterday by winning their respective semifinals.
In the women’s 75kg category, Morocco’s Khadija Mardi – the 32-year-old reigning women’s 75kg African champion – claimed her ticket to Paris at the end of a tense match against Kenya’s Elizabeth Adhiambo Andiego. The Moroccan athlete led through the three rounds, eventually securing the brightest medal and the quota place with a unanimous decision score of 5-0. The technical match saw Mardi controlling her opponent through her longer reach and a show of dodge-and-hit combinations. Andiego got increasingly frustrated and was given a 1-point deduction amid round 2, jeopardizing her chances of success. But nothing is granted until the last gong in boxing, as a single blow can easily change the final outcome. Mardi kept cool and controlled the last section of the bout, taking full advantage of her long experience, to secure a spot in her second Olympic edition after Rio 2016 and skipping Tokyo 2020 as she gave birth to her third child.
In the women’s 54kg gold medal match, her teammate Bertal Widad (MAR) won with apparent ease her final match against Egypt’s Ayyad Yomna Ahmed Rezk Abdalla, claiming a unanimous decision from the judges.
Moments later, another Egyptian boxer, Elawady Omar Elsayed Ragab Elawad, clinched a razor-thin on-points victory in the men’s 71kg event, as he collected a 3 to 1 split decision against Kulenguluka Mbiya Steve (COD), thus securing the brightest medal and the Paris 2024 Olympic quota place at stake today. His teammate Abdelgawwad Abdelrahman Salah Orabi (EGY) secured another Olympic pass as he outscored Changalawe Yusuf Lucasi (TAN) 5-0 in the men’s 80kg final match.
In a big day for Team Nigeria, Omole Dolapo Joshua clinched a 3-2 win against Ethiopia Leta Fikremariyam Yadesa in the men’s 57kg final. The Nigerian athlete led round 1 and 2, and then controlled round 3, facing the relentless charges of his Ethiopian opponent who tried to knock him down right to the last second.
Omole’s will be traveling to Paris along with his teammate Olaore Olaitan Adam, who qualified for the next Games as he won the men’s 92kg final, outscoring Algeria’s Houmri Mohamed by 4-0 points, leading round 1 and 3 and controlling his opponents through round 2. Their team kept on celebrating even further, as Cynthia Temitayo Ogunsemilore prevailed in the women’s 60kg final match, outscoring 5 points to 0 Algeria’s Hadjila Khelif to secure the gold medal in the weight class.
Algeria’s super-heavyweight Kadi Mourad shuttered the qualification dream of the hosting country as he beat the local hero Diarga Balde of Senegal via a split decision (4:1) in the men’s +92kg category, booking a spot in the next Olympic Games. After leading round 1 and round 2, the experienced Algerian athlete limited damages in round 3 (which he lost) avoiding taking too many risks, to claim the brightest medal.
In a day of success for the boxing powerhouse, another Algerian athlete, Jugurtha Ait Bekka secured the men’s 63.5kg quota place and gold medal at stakes here in Dakar, as he beat 4-1 Mauritius’ Colin Louis Richarno. Their teammates Imane Khelif and Roumaysa Boualam also claimed a gold medal, in the women’s 66kg and 50kg categories, respectively.
Zambia’s Patrick Chinyemba knocked down Tunisia’s Ala Eddine Zidi Ala Eddine to secure a coveted Paris 2024 Olympic quota place in the men’s 51kg category, the only Olympic pass won by his country at this qualification tournament. Boxing with his unique style, the Zambian athlete measured his distance in round 1, led through round two, and eventually landed a left-hand blow that put an end to the bout in round 3. Ala Eddine Zidi Ala Eddine was immediately treated by the medical team on-site and transported to the local hospital for a potential humerus fracture. His teammate Khouloud Hlimi Ep Moulahi (TUN) won the women’s 57kg category gold medal by outscoring Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Sakobi Matshu Marcelat 5-0.
The Boxing Road to Paris qualification pathway will now continue at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou (CHN), to then proceed to the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago (CHI) and the Pacific Games in Honiara (SOL), later this year. After the continental qualifications, two World Qualification events will take place in Busto Arsizio (Italy) from February 29 to March 12, 2024, and in Bangkok (Thailand) from May 23 to June 3, 2024.
Follow the Boxing Road to Paris on boxing.athlete365.org.
Dakar Day 6: First 10 Paris 2024 Quota Places Awarded in 5 Women’s Events
14/09/2023
Ten Paris 2024 Olympic quota places were earned today by seven different countries at the Boxing Road to Paris Africa qualification tournament held at the Dakar Arena in the Senegalese capital.
A total of 18 quota places are available at this event: 2 quotas in each of the 6 women’s events (except for the women’s 75kg category, where only 1 quota place is distributed here), and 1 quota in each of the 7 men’s events. This means that all finalists in the women’s 50kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg, and 66kg events are guaranteed a ticket to Paris, while in all other categories, finishing first is the only path to continental level qualification.
Morocco’s Widad Bertal became the first African boxer to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games by defeating Haghighat-Joo Sara (SLE) in the Women’s 54kg category semifinal this afternoon in Dakar. The Moroccan athlete secured a spot in the final, guaranteeing one of the two quota places available in the category here in Dakar. In tomorrow’s final, she will face Egypt’s Yomna Ahmed Rezk Abdalla Ayyad, who secured a Paris 2024 qualification spot by winning 3-1 against Algeria’s Fatma Zohra Abdelkader Hadjala. The Egyptian boxer struggled in round 1 but made a strong comeback in round 2, eventually finishing the match on top as the Algerian athlete received a 1-point deduction.
It was Algeria’s Boualam Roumaysa who secured the first Paris 2024 quota place to be awarded in the women’s 50kg category here in Dakar, as she outdid Nigeria’s Oyesiji Adeola Omowunmi in the evening session, via a unanimous decision, after leading all three rounds. Having achieved her main goal in the tournament, she’s now looking forward to tomorrow’s final match where she’s going up against Morocco’s Yasmine Mouttaki, who stunned Benedicte Diyoka (COD) via a 5-0 win to secure a quota place and a spot in the gold medal match.
Senegal’s Mariatou Diallo, supported here in Dakar by a cheering home crowd, did not make it to the final today. The Senegalese athlete led round 1 of her women’s 57kg category quarterfinal against Tunisia’s Hlimi Ep Moulaahi Khouloud, but was overwhelmed in round 2, when the referee had to stop the contest after counting her twice. Hlimi Ep Moulaahi advanced to the final match, securing the coveted Paris 2024 quota place she was here for. Now, on her way to the highest step of the podium, she will meet Sakobi Matshu Marcelat (COD) who secured a split decision win over Nigeria’s Ojo Nene Joy to claim her spot in the final and at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
In the women’s 60kg category, Algeria’s Khelif Hadjila won her semifinal bout against Côte d’Ivoire’s Mariam Sidibe by unanimous decision, securing a place in the final and a Paris 2024 qualification berth. Nigeria’s Ogunsemilore Cynthia Temitayo was the second semifinalist to qualify for Paris 2024 today by stunning Zambia’s Nkandu Felistars. The Nigerian athlete initially led in round 1 and then forced the referee to stop the contest in round 2 as she clearly dominated her opponent.
Mozambique’s Dos Santos Alcinda Lucas claimed a unanimous decision victory over Mbabi Tsheusi Brigitte from the Democratic Republic in the women’s 66kg category, booking a ticket to Paris. At tomorrow’s final, as well as at the Games, she will meet Algeria’s Khelif Imane, who beat Cameron’s Mireille Noelle Bindzi Ongbibou by unanimous decision.
Moving on to the women’s 75kg category, Morocco’s reigning African champion Khadija Mardi had to fight hard to advance from her semifinal bout. After leading in rounds 1 and 2, she faced a tough challenge from her opponent, Nigeria’s Mbata Patricia Adanma Epelle. The Nigerian athlete forced Mardi into a standing count in the second half of round 3, but the Moroccan athlete managed to recover and land a couple of convincing blows in the last seconds of the match, eventually winning 4 points to Adanma’s 1.
Mardi will face Kenya’s Andiego Elizabeth Adhiambo in tomorrow’s final, as the Kenyan boxer beat Tunisia’s Ben Mabrouk Molka via a commanding 5-0 decision today. In this weight class, only 1 Paris 2024 Olympic quota place is available at the Africa qualification tournament. Therefore, the winner of the final match will secure a flight to Paris.
In the men’s 51kg, Zambia’s Chinyemba Patrick claimed a 4-1 win as he beat Morocco’s Mortaji Said and advanced to the final, with his unique boxing style. His skills will be put to the test in tomorrow’s final, where he will meet Tunisia’s Zidi Ala Eddine who finished in the spotlight today by winning a hard-fought match against Ghana’s Allotey Theophilus Kpakpo by unanimous decision.
The men’s 57kg final will see Nigeria’s Joshua Omole Dolapo and Ethiopia’s Yadesa Leta Fikremariyam competing for the gold medal and an Olympic berth, as they defeated Cameroon’s Alain Christian Sangue and Algeria’s Hichem Maouche, respectively, today.
Colin Louis Richarno from Mauritius gained a hard-fought 4-1 decision against Uganda’s Tukamuhebwa Joshua in the men’s 63.5kg category, keeping his Olympic dream alive. To secure a ticket to Paris already here in Dakar, he will have to beat Jugurtha Ait Bekka. The Algerian athlete reached the final by outscoring Masamba John Paul of South Africa by 5 points to 0, taking advantage of his longer reach and displaying his technical skills.
Elawady Omar Elsayed Ragab Elawad (EGY) won a 4-1 decision in his men’s 71kg semifinal against Fernandes De Barros Bruno Miguel (CPV), advancing to the final against Kulenguluka Mbiya Steve (COD), who secured his spot with a unanimous decision win over Pakela Arena Michael (LES).
Supported by a number of teammates shouting “pilli pilli” and “piga piga” – Swahili for “you’re on fire” and “hit hit” – Tanzania’s Changalawe Yusuf Lucasi outpowered Algeria’s Nemouchi Younes in the Men’s 80kg category. After dominating the first two rounds, he outclassed his opponents in round three, forcing the Algerian second to throw in the towel and abandon at 2:54. Chasing his Olympic dream, he will have to go against Egypt’s Abdelgawwad Abdelrahman at tomorrow’s final: only the winner will be guaranteed a ticket to Paris.
Moving on to the men’s 92kg category, Algeria’s Mohamed Houmri secured a 3-2 victory over Mozambique’s Gabriel Albino Julio, booking a final match against Nigeria’s Olaore Olaitan Adam. Another Algerian athlete, Mourad Kadi, qualified for the men’s +92kg event, as he outscored Agnes Keddy Evans (SEY), earning a spot in the final against Balde Diarga (SEN), the home athlete who won the applause of the crowd by defeating Morocco’s Mohamed Firisse after a tense match.
The Boxing Road To Paris Africa qualification tournament in Dakar, Senegal, has seen 235 athletes from 42 African nations competing in the event that started September 9th. In its last day, tomorrow, September 15th, 13 final matches are going to take place in as many weight categories, and 8 more Paris 2024 quota places are to be awarded (1 quota place to the winner of each of the 7 men’s events and 1 quota place to the winner of the women’s 75kg event).
All bouts are going to be broadcasted live by the Olympic channel: stay tuned on https://olympics.com/en/sports/boxing/ to follow the action in Dakar!
Dakar’s Day 5: Quarterfinals Shape the Final Phase of the Tournament
13/09/2023
The Boxing Road to Paris Africa qualification tournament continued in Dakar, Senegal, with the quarterfinals of all 13 Olympic weight classes held today. Athletes from 42 countries on the continent are participating in the tournament, which is being held at the Dakar Arena from September 9th through the 15th, with the goal of securing 18 quota places, the tickets to the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
In women’s events, 11 quota places will be awarded (two in each women’s event, except for the women’s 75 kg event where only 1 quota is available). In the men’s events, only 1 quota place will be awarded in each event, meaning that only the winners will earn a pass to Paris.
Women’s 54kg Category
In the women’s 54kg category, Morocco’s Bertal Widad defeated Nigeria’s Adeshina Zainab Motunrayo (NGR) by 5 points to 0, advancing to the semifinals where she will face Haghighat-Joo Sara (SLE), who secured her spot by defeating Nyembo Muamba Gisele (COD) via unanimous decision. In the same category, the tournament will see Egypt’s Ayyad Yomna Ahmed Rezk Abdalla facing Algeria’s Abdelkader Hadjala Fatma Zohra, after they defeated Ethiopia’s Bayew Agerie Emagnu and Tunisia’s Jlassi Chadha, respectively.
Women’s 60kg Category
In the women’s 60kg category, Mariam Sidibe (CIV) will face Khelif Hadjila (ALG) in the first semifinal, tomorrow. They both won their quarterfinal matches by outscoring Mendes Varela Carina (CPV) and Mulungo Isabel Sandra of Mozambique, respectively. The winner will meet the boxer emerging from the second semifinal, where Nkandu Felistars (ZAM) will go up against Ogunsemilore Cynthia Temitayo (NGR).
Women’s 75kg Category
In the women’s 75kg weight class, Morocco’s boxing superstar Khadija Mardi, the reigning African Champion who has won three continental titles in her career, defeated Mozambique’s Gramane Rady Adosinda 5 points to 0 after a tense match. Mardi will now meet Nigeria’s Mbata Patricia Adanma Epelle, who gained a 5-0 victory over Mwika Marie-Joelle (COD). In the same weight class, Tunisia’s Ben Mabrouk Molka defeated Senegal’s Ndiaye Ndèye Seynabou Dieng by unanimous decision and is now set to face Andiego Elizabeth Adhiambo (KEN) in the second semifinal.
Men’s 57kg Category
In the men’s 57kg category, Alain Christian Sangue of Cameroon secured a 3-2 split decision against Idriss Kitangila Kabwe (COD) in the quarterfinals. He will now face Nigeria’s Omole Dolapo Joshua, who defeated Namibia’s Morning Ndevelo Tryagain in round 1 during his quarterfinal match. The winner of that match will move up to the final, against the boxer who will prevail in the semifinal between Leta Fikremariyam Yadesa (ETH) and Maouche Hichem (ALG).
Men’s 71kg Category
Mozambique’s Tiago Osorio Muxanga, one of the “athletes to watch” in this tournament, lost his chances today in the men’s 71kg category. He was defeated by Steve Kulenguluka Mbiya (COD) with a score of 3 to 2 points. Kulenguluka Mbiya is now up for a semifinal match against Lesotho’s Michael Pakela Arena, who outscored Uganda’s Isaac Zebra Ssenyange 4 to 1 points today. Bruno Miguel Fernandes De Barros and Elawady Omar Elsayed Ragab Elawad (EGY) will compete in the second semifinal of the weight class tomorrow afternoon.
Men’s 92kg Category
Morocco continues to perform well in this Boxing Road to Paris Africa qualification tournament. In the men’s 92kg category, Moroccan boxer Maanni Ayoub advanced to the semifinals by defeating South Africa’s Nhlapo Bonginkosi with a commanding 5-0 score. He will now face Nigeria’s Adam Olaore Olaitan. In the other semifinal, Albino Julio Gabriel (MOZ) will go up against Algeria’s Mohamed Houmri, after they defeated home hero Karamba Kebe (SEN) and Jonathan Tetteh (GHA), respectively.
Men’s +92kg Category
Algeria’s Mourad Kadi finished in the spotlights in the men’s +92kg category, as he beat Cameroon’s Mvogo Amougou Zacharie Serge in less than 3 minutes. The Algerian boxer dominated the first part of round 1, forcing the referee to stop the contest at 1:33, and thus advancing to the semifinals. There, he will meet a formidable opponent, Keddy Evans Agnes of the Seychelles, who also advanced to the semifinals through a RSC as he beat Dos Santos Morais Davilson (CPV) at 2:21 in round 1. Morocco’s Mohamed Firisse beat Kenya’s Ramogi Fredrick Otieno (also by RSC in round 1) and will now meet the host country’s medal hope Balde Diarga in the second semifinal of the weight class.
Women’s 50kg Category
Nigeria’s Oyesiji Adeola Omowunmi clinched a 4-1 victory against Margret Tembo of Zambia in the Women’s 50kg category quarterfinal, advancing to the semifinal match where she will meet Algeria’s Boualam Roumaysa, who beat Aly Habiba Ibrahim Abdo Elshe (EGY) by unanimous decision. Diyoka Benedict (COD) won 4-1 against Ngoune Reine Laure (CMR) and will meet Morocco’s Yasmine Mouttaki in the second semifinal.
Women’s 57kg Category
Tunisia’s Hlimi Ep Moulahti Khouloud (TUN) won as the referee stopped her women’s 57kg match against South Africa’s Mnguni Phiwokuhle Sbusisiwe amid round 2. She’s now bound to a bout against local hero Diallo Mariatou, representing Senegal, who won by a split decision against Benilde Regina Fernando Macaringue (MOZ). In the second semifinal of the class, Sakobi Matshu Marcelat (COD) will face Nigeria’s Ojo Nene Joy, after they beat Kenosi Keamogetse Sadie (BOT) and Selmouni Chahira (ALG).
Women’s 66kg Category
In the women’s 66kg event, Mireille Noelle Bindzi Ongbibou (CMR) won by unanimous decision against Shodipe Olawunmi Damilola from Nigeria, advancing to the semifinal match where she will meet Imane Khelif (ALG). Mbabi Tsheusi Brigitte (COD) beat Kenya’s Asiko Friza Anyango (KEN) by unanimous decision to book a spot in the second semifinal of the category against Lucas Dos Santos Alcinda (MOZ).
Men’s 51kg Category
Morocco’s Said Mortaji claimed a 4-1 victory against Tanzania’s Mohamed Abdallah Abdallah in the men’s 51kg category, advancing to the semifinal phase of the tournament where he will meet Zambia’s Patrick Chinyemba. At the same time, Ghana’s Allotey Theophilus Kpakpo secured an unanimous decision win against Uganda’s Mawanda Fathia Shafik to meet Zidi Ala Eddine from Tunisia in the semifinal.
Men’s 63.5kg Category
Uganda’s Joshua Tukamuhebwa beat Tunisia’s Dridi Mehdi by unanimous decision in the first men’s 63.5kg weight class quarterfinal of the day, moving up in the brackets to a semifinal match against Mauritius’ Colin Louis Richarno, who achieved another victory as he defeated Morocco’s Abdelhaq Nadir via a split decision. In the other semifinal of the category, Algeria’s Jugurtha Ait Bekka will go up against South Africa’s Masamba John Paul.
Men’s 80kg Category
Tanzania’s Yusuf Lucasi Changalawe dashed the Olympic dream of the home team, beating Senegal’s Mouhamed Konate Seydina on points, by split decision, in the men’s 80kg category. On his way to a Paris 2024 qualification, Changalawe will have to meet Algeria’s Nemouchi Younes in the semifinal, as the Algerian athlete beat Tessa Kombila Yaya Roger (GAB) 5 to 0. Abdelgawwad Abdelrahman Salah Orabi (EGY) will meet Ipinge Gebhard Tonateni (NAM) in the second semifinal of the weight class.
Action is due to resume tomorrow, September 14th, when the semifinals will take place in two sessions at 12.00 and 17.00 (Dakar time). The finalists emerging from the women’s 50kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg, and 66kg semifinals will be awarded a quota place.
Stay tuned on boxing.athlete365.org for results, photos, and news, and watch the tournament live on the Olympic Channel at https://olympics.com/en/sports/boxing/
Dakar’s Day 3: Senegal in the spotlight
11/09/2023
The Boxing Road to Paris Africa qualification tournament continued today in Dakar, Senegal. Day 3 started with the women’s 57kg and the men’s 63.5kg and 92kg rounds of 16 bouts during the afternoon session.
Women’s 57kg Category
Host country Senegal took the spotlight as Mariatou Diallo entered the ring against Kenya’s Chege Pauline Wandia. Despite a challenging match, Diallo managed to secure victory with a narrow margin of 3 to 2 points. She will advance to the tournament’s next round and face Mozambique’s Benilde Regina Fernando Macaringue, who secured her spot in the quarterfinals with a unanimous decision win against Mambou Dorine Stephane (CMR).
In the same weight class, South Africa’s Mnguni Phiwokuhle Sbusisiwe dominated Mohammed Anatu (GHA) with a resounding 5-0 score, earning a spot in the women’s 57kg quarterfinals where she will meet Tunisia’s Khouloud Hlimi Ep Moulahi (bye). Sakobi Matshu Marcelat (COD) also advanced to the round of 16 by defeating El Ksiri Laela (MAR) with a convincing 5-0 score, setting up a quarterfinal match against Kenosi Keamogetse Sadie (BOT).
Selmouni Chahira (ALG) and Ojo Nene Joy (NGR) will compete in the last quarterfinal match on September 13th after defeating Camara Marine Fatoumata Colette (MLI) and Mhango Mary (ZAM), respectively.
Men’s 63.5kg Category
Ghana’s Joseph Commey won the first men’s 63.5kg round of 16 match of the day. With consistent power and precision throughout the three rounds, he secured a commanding 5-0 victory against Brice Romaric Bassole (BUR), earning a full scorecard (all judges awarded him all rounds). Commey will now face a formidable opponent in the quarterfinals, Algeria’s Jugurtha Ait Bekka, who secured a unanimous decision win against Botswana’s Kabo Collen Seitshiro.
Tunisia’s Dridi Mehdi advanced to the quarterfinals after a walkover by Jorgito Ca (GBS). He will meet Uganda’s Joshua Tukamuhebwa, who reached this stage with a knockout victory in his first tournament bout two days ago and a win against Gabon’s Ndjinga Clinton Farlo by the referee’s stoppage today.
Louis Richarno Colin (MRI) won against Taha Don Yves Mikael (CIV) by unanimous decision, earning a spot in a face-off against Morocco’s Abdelhaq Nadir, who also secured a win as the referee stopped his contest against Sylla Alseny (GUI).
At the bottom side of the brackets, South Africa’s John Paul Masamba cleared his round of 16 bout against Lesotho’s Monaheng Khebe in less than 3 minutes, overwhelming him before the referee stopped the contest at 2:54. Elsayed Omar Abdelaziz Abdelaziz (EGY) awaits him in the quarterfinals after securing a 5-0 win in his preliminary bout.
Men’s 92kg Category
Moving on to the heavyweights, Senegal’s medal hopeful, Kebe Karamba, electrified the Dakar Arena as he outscored Tanzania’s Maregesi Musa Wambura in today’s preliminary men’s 92kg bout. Up next, the home champion faces a formidable opponent on his path to the podium and the Paris 2024 quota place: Nigeria’s Olaore Olaitan Adam, who defeated Zahouli Bi Marshal Junior Youzan (CIV) as the referee stopped the contest.
In the same class, after winning today’s preliminary bout, Maanni Ayoub (MAR) is set for a quarterfinals fight against South Africa’s Nhlapo Bonginkosi, who advanced via a walk-over. Mozambique’s Albino Julio Gabriel won a thrilling match against Londji Arignany Christ Freddy (GAB) today. While he lost the first round due to his opponent’s longer reach, he dominated the second and third rounds, overpowering Freddy. Gabriel convinced the five judges to award him the bout by unanimous decision. Moving forward, he will meet Alwanga Peter Abuti (KEN), who beat Kandil Hazem Nader Abdellatif Em of Egypt by unanimous decision. Algeria’s Houmri Mohamed and Ghana’s Jonathan Tetteh will compete in the last quarterfinal of the category on the 13th of September.
During the evening session, preliminary bouts were held for the men’s 51kg and 57kg weight classes, as well as the women’s 66kg weight class. These bouts determined the brackets for their respective quarterfinal phases, which are scheduled to take place on September 13th.
The Boxing Road to Paris Africa qualification tournament features 235 athletes from 42 nations competing in 13 weight classes and will qualify 18 boxers for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
The tournament will pause on September 12th and then resume from September 13th to September 15th. The final three days of the competition, including all medal matches and Olympic quota place fights, will be broadcast live by the Olympic Channel. Stay tuned on www.olympic.com for updates!
Dakar’s Day 2: Evening Session Showcases Top-Class Action
10/09/2023
Day-2’s evening session transformed into a stage for top-class sports action at the Boxing Road to Paris Africa Qualification Tournament in Dakar, Senegal.
Men’s 71kg Weight Class
In the Men’s 71kg weight class, one of the most anticipated boxers, Mozambique’s Tiago Osorio Muxanga, once again took the spotlight. He dominated his round of 16 bout, leaving no chances for Boniface Shain Barnsley from Seychelles. Muxanga carefully studied his opponent in the first round, maintaining his distance. As the second round began, he launched a relentless assault on his opponent with an unstoppable pace and intensity. The referee had to stop the bout soon, awarding the victory to Muxanga, who has yet to be seen competing in a third round here in Dakar.
Everyone now wonder if his next opponent, Steve Kulenguluka Mbiya (COD), will be able to shad light on what Muxanga looks like in a Round 3, as he walks into the stellar quarterfinal match after securing a convincing 5-0 victory against Nigeria’s Fatai Moshood Abiola.
Michael Arena Pakela of Lesotho claimed a 4-1 split decision win over Kenya’s Maina Boniface Mogunde, earning a spot in the quarterfinals against Uganda’s Isaac Zebra Ssenyange. Ssenyange collected a split-decision victory against Simnikiwe Bongco from the Republic of South Africa.
In the same category, Fernandes De Barros Bruno Miguel (CPV) defeated Thomas Christian Alimamy (SLE) by a score of 3-1. He is set to face Tunisia’s Ghazouani Hamza, who secured a 4-1 win against Cameron’s Mengue Ayissi Albert.
Senegal’s Mendy Alphonse Junior Antoine advanced in the tournament, beating Armando Bighafa Bigate Naaé (GBS) through a split decision, keeping the host country’s Olympic hopes alive. Chasing his dreat to secure place in the Paris 2024 Olympics, he will have to face Egypt’s Elawady Omar Elsayed Ragab Elawad. Elawad impressively defeated Saed Mohammed Fathi Saad (LBA) in less than three minutes, prompting the referee to stop the contest in the first round.
Men’s 80kg Weight Class
Today’s men’s 80kg bouts determined the brackets for the quarterfinals, scheduled for the evening session on September 13th.
Local hero Konate Seydina Mouhamed, representing Senegal in the men’s 80kg weight class on his home turf, advanced in the tournament with a commanding 5-0 win over Laweri Okumu Jalaba Charles (SSD). He will next face Lucas Yusuf Changalawe (TAN), who secured victory with a close 3-2 decision against Ngamissengue Mpi Anauël (CGO).
In the same weight class, Egypt’s Abdelgawwad Abdelrahman Salah Orabi dominated his match against Ndaye Ghislain from the Central African Republic. Abdelgawwad started by controlling the center of the ring, then relentlessly pursued his opponent, resulting in an unbearable situation for his opponent. With only 16 seconds left in the first round and after two standing counts, the referee had to stop the match, advancing Abdelgawwad to the quarterfinals. There, he will face Morocco’s Mohamed Assaghir, who secured an unanimous decision victory against Maximiliano “Max” Bibang Manana from Equatorial Guinea.
Gabon’s Tessa Kombila Roger Yaya defeated Zoungrana Eben Ezer Tene Gueswende (BUR) with a convincing 5-0 score, earning a spot in the quarterfinals against Algeria’s Younes Nemouchi.
Togo’s Padabadi Prewa achieved a hard-fought 4-1 victory against Libya’s Saad Saad Fathi. The first round ended in a tie, with Saad Saad Fathi leading in round 2. However, Padabadi’s stamina carried him through round 3, forcing his opponent into a standing count. The judges awarded him the victory. In the next phase, he will meet Namibia’s Ipinge Gebhard Tonateni, who advanced to the quarterfinals with an unanimous decision victory over Nzewi Israel Emanuel (CPV), securing a full scorecard (each of the five judges awarded him all three rounds).
In the Women’s 54kg category, Egypt’s Ayyad Yomna Ahmed Rezk Abdalla secured a unanimous decision from the judges, defeating Yetongnon Coletivi Dechey (TOG) on points. Jlassi Chadha (TUN) advanced in the tournament as her opponent Ndong Maïmouna (SEN) withdrew. The category’s quarterfinals are now set and will take place in the afternoon session on September 13th.
The Boxing Road to Paris Africa Qualification Tournament features 235 athletes from 42 nations competing in 13 weight categories (7 men’s, 6 women’s). It is held at the Dakar Arena in the Senegalese capital from September 9th to September 15th.
The tournament continues on September 11th with 43 more preliminary bouts in two sessions at 12:00 and 17:00 (Dakar time).
Follow the event on boxing.athlete365.org!
Dakar’s Day 2: Afternoon Session Shapes Women’s 50kg and Men’s 63.5kg Brackets
10/09/2023
The Boxing Road to Paris Africa Qualification Tournament continued today in Dakar, Senegal, with 43 bouts scheduled for Day 2. During the afternoon session, athletes competed in the women’s 50kg and 54kg categories, as well as in the men’s 63.5kg weight class.
In the Women’s 50kg category, today’s matches determined the quarterfinalists for this weight category, which are set to compete during the evening session on September 13th.
Oyesiji Adeola Omowunmi (NGR) displayed remarkable skills and secured a unanimous decision victory over Yusufu Zulfa Macho (TAN) in the first women’s 50kg bout of the day. Her next challenge will be Margret Tembo (ZAM), who swiftly defeated Dieynaba Diallo (SEN) as the referee stopped the contest early in round 1, favoring the Zambian athlete.
Aly Habiba Ibrahim Abdo Elshe (EGY) advanced via a walkover, and her next challenge will be Boualam Roumaysa (ALG). Roumaysa made a strong impression today by overpowering Namibia’s Ngesheya Ndapandula Peyehafo, leading to two standing counts and an early stoppage by the referee in round 1.
Yasmine Mouttaki of Morocco delivered a dominant performance, securing a 5-0 win on points against Republic of South Africa’s Mathiba Thandolwethu Truelove. She has earned her spot in the quarterfinals, where she will face Hafsi Wafa from Tunisia, who also advanced with an unanimous decision win over Kenya’s Christine Ongare.
Benedicte Diyoka from the Democratic Republic of Congo moved forward in the brackets as she defeated Ghana’s Janet Acquah. The referee stopped the contest during round 2 as Diyoka showcased her power. She is now set to face Cameron’s Laure Ngoune Reine in what promises to be an exciting matchup.
Moving on to the Women’s 54kg category, Nigeria’s Adeshina Zainab Motunrayo exhibited control throughout her bout, securing a unanimous decision victory against Burundi’s Havyarimana Ornell. Motunrayo effectively landed clean, powerful punches throughout the three rounds, leading to several standing counts for her opponent and securing the victory.
Sierra Leone’s Sara Haghighat-Joo also advanced in the tournament by beating Kenya’s Faki Amina Martha with a dominant 5-0 victory. Additionally, Gisele Nyembo Muamba from the Democratic Republic of Congo secured a spot in the next round by overpowering Ghana’s Quaye Ramatu. The contest was stopped at the beginning of round 2 due to Muamba’s impressive performance. Bayew Agerie Emagnu from Ethiopia also secured a convincing 5-0 win against Ngandwe Hildah from Zambia.
In the Men’s 63.5kg division, thirteen bouts took place during the afternoon session, shaping the round of 16 for this event. Tunisia’s Mehdi Dridi clinched a 4-1 split decision win against eSwatini’s Dlamini Thabiso, earning a spot in the next round. He is set to meet Jorgito Ca of Guinea Bissau (bye).
In the same category, Joshua Tukamuhebwa (UGA), Ndjinga Clinton Farlo (GAB), Colin Louis Richarno (MRI), Mikael Taha Don Yves (CIV), Sylla Alseny (GUI), Nadir Abdelhaq Mar (MAR), Joseph Commey (GHA), Seitshiro Kabo Collen (BOT), Ait Bekka Jugurtha (ALG), John Paul Masamba (RSA), Khebe Monaheng (LES) and Admilson Kévin Moreira De Carvalho (CPV) all made it through their respective bouts today, advancing to the next phase of the tournament, where they will meet also Egypt’s Omar Abdelaziz Abdelaziz Elsayed (bye) and Brice Romaric Bassole of Burkina Faso (bye).
The tournament, featuring 235 athletes from 42 nations, is taking place at the Dakar Arena in Dakar, Senegal. The event, scheduled from September 9th to September 15th (with a day-off on September 12th), aims to qualify 18 athletes for the next Olympic Games Paris 2024, with 11 spots available for women and 7 for men.
The competition will resume later today with the evening session starting at 17:00 (Dakar time), featuring 18 more bouts in the Women’s 54kg, Men’s 71kg, and 80kg weight categories.
Stay tuned for updates on boxing.athlete365.org!
Boxing Road to Paris: Africa Qualification Tournament Kicks Off in Dakar, Senegal
09/09/2023
The Boxing Road to Paris Africa Qualification Tournament commenced today in Dakar, Senegal, featuring 235 athletes from 42 nations. The event, running from September 9th to September 15th (with a day-off on September 12th), is a pivotal moment for boxers from across the continent who are vying for the 18 Paris 2024 quota places, with 11 spots available for women and 7 for men.
The tournament is organized by the National Olympic Committee of Senegal at the Dakar Arena in Diamniadio and is sanctioned by the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU). On the opening day, a total of 48 bouts took place, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling competition.
Women’s 50kg
The action began with Tanzania’s Yusufu Zulfa Macho securing the first victory of the tournament in the women’s 50kg category, defeating Uganda’s Grace Nankinjga in a commanding 5-0 decision. She is now poised to face Nigeria’s Omowunmi Adeola Oysiji in the round of 16, as Oysiji advanced with a bye. Meanwhile, Morocco’s Yasmine Mouttaki triumphed with an unanimous decision over Helena Bagao from Mozambique, setting up a clash with South Africa’s Thandolwethu Truelove Mathiba in the round of 16.
Roumaysa Boulam from Algeria and Janet Acquah from Ghana also emerged victorious in their respective bouts and are set to face Namibia’s Ndapandula Peyehafo Ngesheya and Benedicte Diyoka of the Democratic Republic of Congo, respectively, in the next round.
Men’s 51kg
In the Men’s 51kg category, Tanzania’s Abdallah Abdallah Mohamed secured his first victory in the tournament by defeating Lenick Patrick Gomes Fernandes from Cape Verde by a score of 4 to 1. His next challenge will be Egypt’s Abdallah Saied Nasser Mou Emam. Four more bouts took place in this event class on the opening day, paving the way for the round of 16 scheduled for September 11th.
Men’s 71kg
The home crowd in Dakar erupted in joy as Senegal’s Alphonse Junior Antoine Mendy, the first Senegalese boxer to step into the ring, triumphed with a 4-1 victory over Ethiopia’s Daniel Abenezer Esebo in the men’s 71kg category. Mendy is now poised to face Guinea Bissau’s Armand Bighafa Bigate Naaé in the round of 16.
Tiago Osorio Muxanga of Mozambique, one of the most anticipated athletes of the tournament in the same weight class, secured an emphatic unanimous 5-0 decision in his match against Alfred Kotey of Ghana. Although Kotey showed promise at the end of round 1, Muxanga clearly outclassed him in rounds two and three, showcasing an irresistible combination of power and technique that left no chance for his opponent. Advancing further in the tournament, he is now set to face Seychelles’ Boniface Shain Barnsley, who earned his spot with a hard-fought 3-2 win against Sekou Doumbia of Ivory Coast.
In this same event, South Africa’s Simnikiwe Bongco, Cape Verde’s Bruno Miguel Fernandes De Barros, Albert Mengue Ayissi of Cameroon, Egypt’s Omar Elsayed Ragab Elawad Elawady, Kenya’s Mogunde Maina Boniface, and Abiola Fatai Moshood also progressed, setting the stage for thrilling matchups in the next phase of the tournament.
Men’s 92kg and Men’s +92kg
In the Men’s 92kg category, Mali’s Maxime Mohamed Coulibaly secured a decisive 5-0 victory, while Algeria’s Mourad Kadi triumphed in the Men’s +92kg with a victory by referee stoppage. The quarterfinals for the Men’s +92kg will take place on September 13th, promising more intense action in the days ahead.
Men’s 80kg
Senegal’s Seydina Mouhamed Konate thrilled the home crowd with a resounding 4-0 victory over Ghana’s Seth Gyimah in the Men’s 80kg category. In the same weight class, boxers from Algeria, Egypt, and Namibia also secured victories, setting the stage for their future clashes in the tournament.
Men’s 57kg and Women’s 60kg
The evening session featured 26 athletes competing in the men’s 57kg event preliminaries, shaping the round of 16 set for Monday, September 11th. In the women’s 60kg category, six bouts determined the quarterfinals scheduled for September 13th.
The Africa qualification tournament in Dakar will continue tomorrow, with the first session starting at 12:00 (Senegal time).
Stay tuned for the latest updates, photos, and results, all of which will be available on the Athlete 365 Boxing Corner website at boxing.athlete365.org.
Don’t forget to mark your calendar for the final phase of the tournament from September 13th to 15th, with all matches broadcasted live by the Olympic Channel.
Official Draw: 235 athletes from 42 NOCs on the rings of the Africa Qualification Tournament
08/09/2023The Technical Meeting and the Official Draw of the Paris 2024 Africa Boxing Qualification tournament in Dakar, Senegal, took place today, September 8th, 2023.
The draw sheets for all 13 weight categories are now available on this website, within the “downloadable resources / draw sheets” section located at the event page’s bottom.
Starting from September 9th and running through to September 15th, boxers from across the continent will compete in the 13 Olympic boxing categories (7 men’s, 6 women’s categories) in the Senegalese capital, with the aim of securing the 18 Paris 2024 quota places up for grabs (11 for women and 7 for men).
A total of 42 African National Olympic Committees (NOCs) are represented in the tournament, with 235 participating athletes (83 women and 152 men). The event will span 7 days, from September 9th to September 15th, with a rest day scheduled for September 12th. Two sessions will be conducted daily at 12:00 and 17:00, totaling 222 bouts. The final phase of the event will be live-streamed by the Olympic Channel from September 13th to September 15th.
The tournament is organized by the National Olympic Committee of Senegal and sanctioned by the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU). It takes place at the Dakar Arena in Diamniadio, the same venue that successfully hosted the 2020 edition of the African continental qualifier on the road to Tokyo.
This event marks the second leg of the Boxing Road to Paris qualification series, which includes five continental tournaments and two world qualifiers. The journey began at the European Games in Krakow-Malopolska last June and will continue at the Pan American, Asian, and Pacific Games later this year. In March and May 2024, two World Qualifiers will be held in Busto Arsizio (Italy) and Bangkok (Thailand), respectively.
Stay tuned for the latest updates, photos, and results, all of which will be posted online on the Athlete 365 Boxing Corner website at boxing.athlete365.org
Road to Paris 2024: Africa Qualification Tournament is set to commence in Dakar
06/09/2023The journey towards the highly awaited Olympic Games Paris 2024 continues with the African Olympic qualifier taking place in Dakar, Senegal.
From the 8th to the 15th of September, boxers from across Africa will converge in the Senegalese capital to compete for the coveted 18 quota places up for grabs (11 for women and 7 for men).
This event marks the second venture of the Boxing Road to Paris qualification series, consisting of five continental tournaments and two world qualifiers. Along this journey, a total of 248 Olympic quota places will be allocated, equally distributed between male and female athletes.
Following the success of the 2020 edition of the tournament, the Dakar Arena once again takes center stage to host thrilling boxing matches. A remarkable roster of 265 athletes (175 men and 90 women) from 43 countries, competing across 13 weight categories, showcasing their exceptional boxing skills.
Here’s a quick overview of some athletes to watch during the event:
Khadija El Mardi (MOR) – A Rio 2016 Olympian who qualified for Tokyo 2020 but could not compete due to giving birth to her child. She arrives in Dakar with her sights set on gold in the women’s middleweight category.
Roumaysa Boualam (ALG) – She secured a spot for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo through her outstanding performance at the 2020 African Olympic Qualification Tournament in Dakar, Senegal. With a gold medal at the 2022 Mediterranean Games and victory at the African Boxing Championship, she’s now aiming to qualify for her second Olympic Games in the Women’s 50 kg event.
Sadia Sanogo (CIV) – She grew up in Dakar, close to the venue hosting the boxing tournament. The Welterweight boxer has made the decision to pursue her Olympic dream while representing Ivory Coast, her parents’ homeland.
Tiago Osorio MUXANGA (MOZ) – Competing in the men’s 71 kg category, Tiago is set to celebrate his birthday during the tournament in Dakar on September 12th, adding an extra layer of significance to his journey. Known for his robust physique, Tiago’s physical skills are hard to ignore.
Pape Mamadou Sow (SEN) – Representing the host country in Men’s 51 kg, he is the son of an African boxing champion. He decided to follow in his father’s footsteps to carry on the family legacy and he is determined to achieve the Olympic title his father missed out on.
Adam Olaore (NIG) – Born in Lagos, Nigeria, he moved to Peckham in southeast London at the age of six. He currently holds the title of African Champion. In Dakar, he competes for his homeland in the Heavyweight category, promising an exciting display of skills.
Stay connected for the latest updates, photos, and results, all of which will be available on the Athlete 365 Boxing Corner website, accessible at boxing.athlete365.org.
Also, mark your calendars as the event will be live-streamed from September 13th to the 15th, with exclusive broadcasts on the Olympic Channel.
Stay tuned!
Boxing Road to Paris: Host Cities and Dates of 2024 World Qualifiers Unveiled
25/08/2023The Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU) has officially announced the host cities and the dates for the two World Qualification Tournaments, where boxers from around the globe will compete for a spot at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
The first world qualification tournament will take place in Busto Arsizio, Italy – from 29 February to 12 March, 2024. The event will allocate 49 quota places (21 Women and 28 Men).
The second world qualification tournament will be held in Bangkok, Thailand – from 23 May to 3 June, 2024. By the end of the tournament, the remaining 51 quotas places will be awarded and the boxing qualification period for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 will be finalized.
The two World Qualification Tournaments ensure that each National Olympic Committee (NOC) will have up to three qualification opportunities on their Boxing Road to Paris.
As per the Paris 2024 Qualification System for Boxing, NOCs will only be able to enter athletes at the World Qualification Tournaments in the specific weight categories where they have not yet been allocated and confirmed a quota place.
For more details regarding the Boxing Road to Paris qualification pathway, please refer to the Qualification System (link).
Media Registrations Open for Africa Olympic Qualifier
23/08/2023The media accreditation process for the Africa qualification tournament has started.
The event will be hosted at the Dakar Arena in Dakar, Senegal, from the 9th through the 15th of September 2023, with 18 Olympic quota places up for grabs (11 for women, 7 for men).
All media accreditation requests should be submitted through the online media accreditation form, at: https://register.event-works.com/iocsports/2024boxqe/e/ce/g/135835/
All media representatives must complete their registration via this platform within August 28, 2023, and wait for their request to be officially approved by the organizing committee.
Looking forward to seeing you all in Dakar.
Dakar to host Africa’s Paris 2024 Boxing continental qualification tournament
14/06/2023The second leg of the boxing qualification pathway to Paris 2024 will be held in Dakar, Senegal, from the 9th through the 15th of September 2023.
The tournament will serve as a qualifier for the African continent, with 18 Olympic quota places up for grabs (11 women, 7 men) in 13 events.
The boxing tournament, organized by the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU), will take place at the Dakar Arena in Diamniadio, on the outskirts of the capital city. The venue – which will be one of the sporting hubs of the 2026 Youth Olympic Games – was inaugurated in 2018 and has already hosted several national and international sports events, including the African Boxing Road to Tokyo qualifier in 2020.
Dakar’s tournament will be the second of the five continental Olympic Boxing Qualifying Tournaments, with the first being the 2023 European Games in Krakow, Poland (44 quota places, 22 women, 22 men). The qualification path will then continue at the Asian Games to be held in Hangzhou, China, from the 23rd of September to the 8th of October 2023, where 34 quota places will be distributed (20 women, 14 men). The Pan American Games (20 October – 5 November 2023, in Santiago, Chile) will qualify the best 30 boxers from the Americas (16 women and 14 men), while 13 quotas will be awarded at the Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands, where the last boxing qualifier of the year will be conducted between the 27th of November and the 2nd of December.
Two World Qualification Tournaments, to be held in the first and second quarters of 2024 (dates and locations to be confirmed), will serve as additional qualification events, offering NOCs with up to three possibilities to secure tickets to Paris. According to the Paris 2024 Qualification System for Boxing, only National Olympic Committees (NOCs) that have not yet qualified an athlete in a specific weight category via the respective continental qualification tournament will be allowed to enter one athlete per weight category.
IOC Executive Board recommends to IOC Session to withdraw recognition of International Boxing Association
08/06/2023The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today recommended to the IOC Session to withdraw recognition of the International Boxing Association (IBA), in accordance with Rule 3.7 of the Olympic Charter (OC).
Find the full news on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) website, here https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-executive-board-recommends-to-ioc-session-to-withdraw-recognition-of-international-boxing-association
Paris 2024 boxing qualification system to achieve a fair process for all NOCs
06/12/2022The delivery model for the Paris 2024 Olympic boxing competition and Olympic boxing qualifiers was discussed today by the Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Designed by the IOC in close collaboration with boxing experts, the Olympic qualification system focuses on:
- Achieving a fair process for all NOCs – with the same number of qualification events available to their boxers, regardless of weight category;
- An increased number of qualification opportunities in comparison to Tokyo 2020;
- Retaining the Athlete Eligibility Criteria successfully used in the Tokyo 2020 boxing qualification system;
- Reviewing the quota place distribution per weight category in comparison to the International Boxing Association (IBA)’s proposal; and
- Reviewing the quota place distribution per qualification tournament in comparison to IBA’s proposal.
The new qualification system was approved by the IOC EB in September and is based on direct qualification through selected competitions, including the use of NOC regional multisport events as Olympic boxing qualification tournaments. Following the continental phase of the quota place allocation, two world qualification tournaments are planned to be held in 2024, with the goal of providing a balance in terms of geographical opportunity to qualify for the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Details can be found here.
This process puts boxers first, reducing the complexity of the qualification process by using existing regional events and giving up to three qualification opportunities, ultimately achieving a fair and equal pathway for all boxers.
The “Paris 2024 Boxing Event Regulations” for the qualification tournaments and the Olympic Games are due to be published as early as possible in 2023.
With regard to anti-doping, the testing at the Olympic qualification tournaments will be carried out in addition to IBA’s existing programme, in close collaboration with the International Testing Agency (ITA).
New boxing qualification system approved for Paris 2024
08/09/2022A new boxing qualification system for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 was approved by the Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today after a full update on the situation of boxing, including governance issues within the International Boxing Association (IBA).
Boxers’ pathway to Paris 2024 approved
After deciding last June that the boxing qualifying events and competitions for Paris 2024 would not be run under the authority of the IBA, the IOC EB was presented with an additional qualification model, which was approved during its meeting in Lausanne.
Designed by the IOC in close collaboration with boxing experts, the new qualification system is based on direct qualification through selected competitions, including the use of National Olympic Committee (NOC) regional multisport events as Olympic boxing qualification tournaments. The responsibility for the boxing competitions in the following events will therefore not lie with the IBA, and alternative arrangements will be put in place with the respective event organisers:
- Pan-American Games – Santiago 2023
- European Games – Krakow 2023
- Pacific Games – Honiara 2023
- Asian Games – Hangzhou 2022 (taking place in 2023)
- ANOCA (Africa) multisport event to be confirmed
Following the continental phase of the quota place allocation, two world qualification tournaments are planned to be held in 2024.
The new Olympic qualification process puts boxers first, lowering the complexity of the qualification process by using existing regional events and giving up to three qualification opportunities, ultimately achieving a fair and equal pathway for all boxers.
Remaining concerns over IBA
The various IOC concerns around the governance of the IBA, including the refereeing and judging process and the IBA’s financial dependency on the state-owned company Gazprom, are still ongoing.
The IOC EB today received a report on the issues related to competition management and refereeing and judging processes highlighted by independent experts during the boxing competition at the recent Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
It also noted that no clear efforts have been made by the IBA to respect and fully implement the roadmap set out by the IOC EB in December 2021 with regard to the IBA’s governance.
As a consequence, the IOC EB has sent a letter to the IBA informing it of the IOC’s ongoing grave concern. Boxing is currently not included in the sports programme of the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 and, considering the absence of any real evolution, the IOC Executive Board is not in a position to reverse its decision. This letter will be shared with the NOCs and national boxing federations.
IOC EB: IBA not in position to run qualifying events and boxing competitions for Paris 2024
24/06/2022In the interest of the athletes and the boxing community, the Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided that the boxing qualifying events and competitions at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 will not be run under the authority of the International Boxing Association (IBA).
The decision is centred on the athletes and the need to provide certainty on the Olympic competitions and qualifications leading to Paris 2024. It follows the continuing and very concerning issues of the IBA, such as its governance and its refereeing and judging system.
The IOC administration will finalise on an exceptional basis alternative models for the organisation of these boxing competitions, working closely with the Paris 2024 Organising Committee and athletes’ representatives. The outcomes of these discussions and suggested recommendations will then be presented to the IOC EB in due course.
Whether or not boxing will be included on the sports programme of the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 will be discussed at a later stage.
Continuing concerns
The various IOC concerns around the governance of the IBA, including the refereeing and judging process and its financial dependency on the state-owned company Gazprom, are still ongoing.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announced on 14 June 2022 that the decision of the IBA Interim Nominations Unit, which had deemed the presidential candidate Boris van der Vorst and three other electoral candidates ineligible for election the day prior to the scheduled IBA elections, had been overturned. The CAS arbitrator accepted the request that they be reinstated as eligible candidates. Furthermore, the CAS stated that Umar Kremlev had committed the same rule violation yet had been admitted to the election as the sole candidate.
With regard to the planned IBA qualification pathway to Paris 2024, the IOC EB noted that no host-city agreements had been signed for the qualification competitions and that there was an insufficient number of certified referees and judges to deliver the planned events.
Background information
Following an investigation and report by an IOC Inquiry Committee in 2019, recognition of the International Boxing Association (at that time still called AIBA) was suspended by the IOC. This suspension is still in force today. Following the suspension, the IOC created a special Task Force with the remit to deliver the qualification events for the boxing tournament at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Led by IOC Member and President of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Morinari Watanabe, the Boxing Task Force delivered a clear, fair and transparent pathway for boxers to qualify for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and ensured a fair and just competition, both on the road to Tokyo and at the Games.
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