Irish Boxing Association Votes to Join World Boxing, Securing 2028 Olympic Participation

Irish boxers are set to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics following a decisive vote by the Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) to join World Boxing. In an extraordinary general meeting, 116 out of 117 clubs voted to remove references to the controversial IBA from their constitution, allowing for dual membership with both the IBA and World Boxing. This move comes after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) provisionally recognized World Boxing and recommended including boxing in the LA 2028 program. IABA chair Niall O'Carroll emphasized that the decision empowers clubs to choose their own direction and enhances international competition opportunities, which had previously been limited. The new structure will allow clubs and national teams greater freedom to train and compete globally. This marks a significant turning point for Irish boxing, which has a storied Olympic history.