World Boxing, the new international governing body for amateur boxing, is actively working on an Artificial Intelligence pilot project aimed at restoring competition integrity ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Outgoing WB President Boris van der Vorst confirmed the initiative on the sidelines of the World Boxing Cup Finals, stating that leveraging modern technology is essential to address the sport's long-standing controversies surrounding scoring and judging.
The core goal of the AI pilot is to introduce objectivity into bout reviews and ensure that "only the best boxer’s hand is raised" at the end of every contest. Van der Vorst acknowledged that the integrity of the competition remains the "main challenge" and a key issue that must be resolved to gain the International Olympic Committee’s full recognition.
He expressed hope for the timeline, stating: "I hope by exploring modern technology we will be able to engage, for example, AI in bout reviews so that we restore the trust of fans, boxers, coaches, and everyone involved."
The WB chief confirmed that the organization is currently piloting with AI and providers to develop a transparent bout review system, with the ultimate hope that the system "will be finished when we are in LA."
The nascent organization faces other major challenges beyond integrity, including securing funding, organizing high-quality competitions like the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, and achieving sufficient global representation. WB must secure support from 50 national federations to retain the sport's inclusion in the LA 2028 program.
To further level the playing field and address seeding issues, such as the controversy involving India’s Nikhat Zareen at the Paris Olympics, World Boxing recently introduced a ranking system.
This system uses boxers' performance across an entire season to determine seedings, ensuring the two strongest boxers avoid fighting in the very first round. Regarding the LA 2028 qualification pathway, Van der Vorst said the process has not been fully finalized but is likely to be a combination of continental and world qualifiers.
Van der Vorst concluded by emphasizing India’s importance to the global body, noting that the country was one of the first Asian national federations to join WB. He praised the talent and hunger he sees across the country and set high expectations for the future
"You can be really proud of the progress India is making. I expect medals in LA and in Brisbane for India in boxing." The WB will elect a new president at its third annual Congress in Rome on November 23.
