August 13th 2024.
Lewis Richardson made history as he became the only boxer from Team GB to bring home a medal from the Paris Olympics. However, his joy was short-lived as the future of boxing in the Olympics is now uncertain. Richardson expressed his concern over the potential removal of the sport from the Olympic program for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, calling it "extremely damaging" and "an absolute travesty".
It has been announced that two sports will be dropped from the Paris Games and six new sports will be added for the LA Games. Breaking, which made its Olympic debut in Paris, will not be returning after receiving mixed reviews. On the other hand, squash, flag football, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and cricket are all being considered to be added to the schedule in the United States.
Boxing, a sport that has been a part of the Summer Olympics since 1904, is now at risk of being axed. It has only missed one Games in 1912 due to laws in Sweden prohibiting the sport. The International Boxing Association (AIBA) was also stripped of its role as the global governing body for boxing by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2023. This decision was made after the AIBA failed to make necessary reforms in terms of governance, finance, and ethics.
Looking ahead to the 2028 Games, the IOC has warned that boxing has a slim chance of remaining in the Olympics unless it can prove that it has addressed issues of corruption, match-fixing, and financial scandals. As a boxer himself, Richardson hopes that a resolution will be reached soon so that aspiring fighters can have the same opportunities and platform that he has had in his career.
"To the athletes, to the boxers in general, I think it's extremely damaging," Richardson shared in an interview with BBC Sport. "The Olympic Games just puts you on such a global platform. It's the biggest stage in the world, it gives you a real opportunity to showcase your skills in front of everybody."
Richardson, who won bronze in the men's light middleweight category in Paris, believes that removing boxing from the Olympics would not only be detrimental to the athletes, but also to the sport itself. "From a sporting, from an Olympic, from a UK Sport perspective, if boxing isn't to be in LA I believe it would be an absolute travesty because boxing is such a special sport, it's historical," he said. "People love the gladiatorial aspect of boxing where men and women compete one-on-one to see who is victorious."
The decision on whether or not boxing will remain in the Olympics will be made before the end of 2025, according to IOC president Thomas Bach. Richardson, who is eternally grateful for the opportunities and experiences boxing has provided him, hopes that the sport will continue to be a part of the Olympics in LA.
"For me personally, boxing has changed my life for the massive, massive benefit," Richardson expressed. "I've come from fairly humble beginnings and boxing has provided unlimited opportunities and experiences for me. I've had some of the best moments of my life, including the last few weeks here at the Olympic Games, through boxing and that's why I keep saying I'm so grateful."
The IOC has encouraged national boxing federations to create a new global body or risk missing out on the 2028 Games. A final decision on boxing's inclusion will be made before the end of next year, as stated by Bach in a recent press conference. "During the course of next year, as soon as possible," Bach said, "But we cannot wait longer than the end of next year."
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