The WBC takes action for Peace

Mexico City- February 25th, 2022

With heavy hearts, the World Boxing Council (WBC) with the world witnesses the terrible outbreak of war, with an attack by Russian forces against the country of Ukraine. We witness this death and destruction with horror.
In the interest of peace, the WBC, as a World’s governing body in our sport, has voted in accordance with our history and conscience to remove the sanction of any and all WBC boxing in Russia until and unless this conflict is resolved in an agreeable manner. The WBC has been in open discussions with other sanctioning organizations and all members of the boxing industry to work towards peace.

We condemn this war in the strongest terms, demand peace in the region, and after careful deliberation are committed to take this action to back up our words as well.

Decades ago, the WBC was the first world sport organization to withdraw recognition of sports in apartheid South Africa, and we must keep our commitment to human rights for all people and reject any act of discrimination and abuse of power.
Demonstrating that commitment to peace and human rights, the WBC Board of Governors has agreed – as we did with apartheid South Africa – that the WBC will not recognize or sanction any boxing activities within Russia until further notice, and the reestablishment of peace and the preservation of human rights in Ukraine.

We do not seek to punish the Russian people, with whom we have and will always maintain the closest of friendship and brotherhood in unity for peace. We extend our feelings to the boxing Community of Russia, boxers, trainers, promoters and ring officials, they are not political, but are the great supporters of our sport within Russia and beyond. We join in unity for our sport and for each other to establish continuous peace activations and campaigns.

We cannot stand by and see so many suffer. The WBC stands with and prays for the people of Ukraine, as well as the ordinary people of Russia, in looking forward to an immediate reconciliation, and an end to this war.
May God give us the guidance we need to return peace and unity for all people.