The president of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst, has set his sights on a radical transformation of the sport. He’s determined to use modern technology, specifically Artificial Intelligence (AI), to make the scoring system more objective and transparent. This bold move comes as World Boxing seeks official recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), a crucial step in its bid to secure boxing’s place in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The current boxing scoring system has long been a source of controversy, with many boxers feeling robbed by subjective and often questionable decisions. Despite numerous changes over the years, the system remains opaque and open to interpretation. The recent controversy at the Paris Olympics, where India’s Nishant Dev lost a seemingly dominant match, further fueled the call for reform.
Van der Vorst acknowledges the need to rebuild trust within the boxing community. He sees AI as a powerful tool to achieve this, stating, “There are very interesting projects that have already started to make judging more objective than subjective. We have to rebuild some trust… we are working on modern technology to build that.”
The Dutchman, who took the helm of World Boxing last November, is optimistic about securing IOC recognition by the end of 2023. This recognition is vital as the IOC previously stripped the International Boxing Association (IBA) of its Olympic recognition due to concerns about financial transparency and governance. The IOC has threatened to exclude boxing from the 2028 Olympics if national federations continue to align with the suspended IBA.
World Boxing faces a tight deadline to secure the support of 50 national federations to gain provisional recognition and ensure boxing’s place in the LA Games. While 14 Asian countries have voted to join World Boxing, 21 remain with the IBA. Van der Vorst remains confident, however, stating that he is “pretty confident of getting more support. It’s important for us to have more representation from Asia.”
Van der Vorst emphasizes that World Boxing is not just focused on regaining Olympic status but also on building a more robust and globally representative organization. He believes that utilizing technology, improving governance, and securing adequate financial resources are essential for achieving this goal.
“The Olympics is the pinnacle, a life-time opportunity for a boxer’s career,” Van der Vorst states, underlining the importance of boxing’s inclusion in the LA Games. He recognizes the monumental challenge ahead, but remains resolute in his determination to keep the Olympic dream alive for boxers worldwide.
