While professional boxing may have prolonged action and stardom that attract global viewership, amateur boxing offers a unique flavor of exhilaration. Fueled by the unpredictable nature of competition, where fighters must be ready to face any opponent at any moment, annual amateur Boxing Championships organized by different organizations like IBA and WB offer precisely that.

As dark shadows loom over boxing’s Olympic future, amateurs and pros are rallying to prevent one of the oldest combat sports known to humankind. Undeterred, Team USA’s rising stars are building momentum toward the 2028 LA Olympics by excelling at the 2024 World Boxing U19 Championships. Let’s look at the medalists from World Boxing’s inaugural tournament.

List of Team USA boxers who won at the 2024 World Boxing U19 Championships

The 2024 U19 World Boxing Championships marks the first global tournament organized by World Boxing. Held at the Pueblo Convention Center in Colorado, USA, the event spanned 10 weight categories for both men and women aged 17 and 18. The event kicked off on October 26, 2024, and will last till November 05, 2024. As of the time of writing this report, all Team USA boxers had competed in their final bouts. So, let’s tally the medal count.

Team USA’s 12-member boxing squad delivered an impressive performance, capturing eight medals at the championships. The haul included three gold, two silver, and three bronze medals. Following is the list of boxers who secured the medals:

Team USA has always been one of the most competitive teams in boxing. With over 66% of this year’s roster securing a medal, they once again proved that they are not a walk in the park. However, the turnout could have been better. Not just in terms of the number of medals, it’s the increasing number of amateur boxers focusing more on professional boxing instead of gaining experience and building an Olympic legacy. So, what seems to be the problem?

A Shift from Olympic Dreams to Professional Ambitions

In recent years, the allure of professional boxing, with its global fame and lucrative contracts worth millions, has drawn many aspiring Olympic athletes away from the amateur ranks. “It has changed because people are going pro,” Team USA boxing assistant coach Christine Lopez noted on this trend. In an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports during the 2024 Paris Olympics, Lopez explained, “I think people do see the bright lights. They see the money and they don’t see deeper than that or beyond that. So, it’s unfortunate.” Then there is the issue between the IBA and IOC.

With the IOC’s decision to ban IBA from overseeing boxing for all future Olympics, the future for young amateurs seeking Olympic glory looks even more bleak. To address these challenges, in September 2024, World Boxing appointed former world champion Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin as the World Boxing Olympic Commission’s inaugural president. His mission is to strengthen ties between the organization and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in hopes of securing boxing’s place at the 2028 Olympics.

Lopez, too, hopes that today’s rising prospects will follow in the footsteps of boxing greats like Claressa Shields. Highlighting the ‘GWOAT’s achievements at the 2012 London Olympics and 2016 Rio Olympics, Lopez said, “Claressa [Shields] did it [for] two golds. She could have gone for a third, I am sure, cuz she was so young,” underscoring the incomparable legacy Olympics can provide for young boxers.

With these shifts and the IOC’s ongoing deliberations with World Boxing, unfortunately, the future of boxing in the Olympics still remains uncertain. As fans and athletes eagerly await a decision, Team USA’s young champions continue to make their mark on the international stage, determined to keep the Olympic spirit alive in their sport.

Do you think boxing will remain a part of the 2028 LA Olympics?