World Boxing president Boris van der Vorst is delighted that his federation has received the backing of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) but told Reuters on Thursday that the real work had just begun.

The International Olympic Committee has granted provisional recognition to World Boxing as the sport’s international governing body, signifying a major step towards the inclusion of the sport at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The IOC has provisionally recognized World Boxing, a new organization launched in 2023, marking a potential return of boxing to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. This move overcomes previous governance hurdles after the IOC stripped the IBA of recognition due to lack of reforms.