Kazakh boxing legend Gennadiy Golovkin, widely known as “GGG,” was unanimously elected as the new president of World Boxing during the organization’s annual Congress in Rome, Italy.
As the sole approved candidate following a rigorous vetting process by an independent panel, Golovkin was named to the role by acclamation, marking a significant milestone in the sport’s governance.
He succeeds Dutch official Boris van der Vorst, who did not seek re-election after completing his term.
Golovkin will serve an initial three-year term, during which he aims to solidify the organization’s role in Olympic boxing.
World Boxing was established in 2023 as an alternative international federation to safeguard boxing’s place in the Olympic Games after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) expelled the International Boxing Association (IBA) in 2023 due to ongoing concerns over governance, financial transparency, and judging integrity.
The IBA’s issues led the IOC to temporarily oversee boxing events at the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Olympics, but this was not a sustainable solution.
World Boxing, backed by over 60 national federations, received provisional IOC recognition in February 2025, paving the way for it to organize boxing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and potentially beyond, including the 2032 Brisbane Games.
The election of Golovkin underscores the body’s commitment to reform, with the Congress also voting on vice presidents and executive board members to ensure diverse, athlete-focused leadership.
Golovkin rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most dominant middleweight boxers of his era, earning a reputation for his devastating knockout power and iron chin.
He won a silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics in the middleweight division, representing Kazakhstan.
Turning professional in 2006, Golovkin captured multiple world titles across organizations like the WBA, WBC, IBF, and IBO, compiling a professional record of 42 wins (37 by knockout), 2 losses, and 1 draw over 45 fights.