Ukrainian heavyweight Wladimir Klitschko has decided not to run for president of the World Boxing Federation, which has been awarded the right to organize a tournament at the 2026 Games by the International Olympic Committee. Klitschko Jr. announced his decision on his Instagram page, noting that he made it after consultations with World Boxing representatives.
According to media reports, in addition to Klitschko, Kazakh boxer Gennady Golovkin and the president of the Greek Boxing Federation, Haris Mariolis, were running for president. The current head of the organization, Boris Van der Vorst, will leave his post, and elections for a new president of the federation will be held in November.
World Boxing has become a competitor to the International Boxing Association (IBA), which is headed by Russian Umar Kremlev. Under his leadership, the IBA has been at the center of scandals and corruption allegations, losing recognition from the IOC. Klitschko does not currently plan to run, leaving the possibility of participating in the future open.
