Africa handed fewer boxing qualification slots for LA 2028 Olympics
Africa’s road to the boxing event at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics has become even tougher after the continent was allocated just 14 direct qualification spots, four fewer than the 18 places available for the Paris 2024 Games.
The quota distribution, confirmed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and World Boxing, means Africa and Oceania will receive only one qualification slot per weight category, while Asia, Europe and Pan-America have been awarded two places per division for both men and women.
The Olympic boxing programme for Los Angeles 2028 will feature 14 weight categories, evenly split between the two genders.
For the women, the divisions are 51kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg, 65kg, 70kg and 75kg, while the men will compete in the 55kg, 60kg, 65kg, 70kg, 80kg, 90kg and over 90kg classes.
Despite the reduced allocation, African boxers will still have several pathways to reach the Games through a four-phase qualification process.
The journey begins at the 2027 World Boxing Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, scheduled for April 2027, where 44 Olympic spots will be up for grabs.
At the championships, semi-finalists in the first four Olympic weight categories for both men and women will automatically secure qualification spots, while only finalists in the remaining divisions will qualify directly.
After the world championships, continental qualifiers will be staged across all regions, with Africa receiving one quota slot per weight category.
Another 46 places will then be available at the first World Qualifier tournament, before a second and final World Qualifier offers between 28 and 36 additional spots depending on how many qualification places host nation United States secures beforehand.
As hosts, the United States is guaranteed a maximum of six quota places three for men and three for women, although any spots already obtained through qualification events will reduce that number.
In addition, eight universality places, split equally between male and female boxers, will be reserved for eligible countries. However, nominated athletes must participate in at least one official qualification tournament to be considered.
To meet eligibility requirements, athletes must have been born between January 1, 1988, and December 31, 2009.
At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Africa was represented by 22 boxers after late withdrawals, and a doping-related exclusion reduced the original number of qualifiers. Algeria led the continent’s representation with five boxers, while Morocco and Egypt each had three athletes competing in Paris.
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