IOC BOXING TASK FORCE MEDIA GUIDE OLYMPIC GAMES TOKYO 2020 Boxing Task Force Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 Boxing Media Guide 2 contents 3 WELCOME 5 IOC BOXING TASK FORCE 8 OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION PATHWAY 10 TECHNICAL OFFICIALS SELECTION & BOXING REGULATIONS 13 BOXING TASK FORCE RANKINGS 27 TOP-RANKED BOXERS 41 OLYMPIC GAMES TOKYO 2020 BOXING COMPETITION VENUE 43 OLYMPIC GAMES TOKYO 2020 BOXING COMPETITION SCHEDULE 46 ATHLETE ENTRY LIST 56 HISTORY OF BOXING AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES 59 REFERENCES & RESOURCES Boxing Task Force 01 Welcome Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 Boxing Media Guide 3 01 WELCOME Boxing Task Force 01 Welcome Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 Boxing Media Guide 4 Welcome to THE Tokyo 2020 OlympiC BoxiNG TOURNAMENT for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, and to 2020 after a complex qualification organise and deliver the Olympic Boxing pathway. The pandemic has had a Qualifying Events and the Olympic boxing significant impact on the Boxing Road competition in Tokyo. to Tokyo over the last 17 months, and we have had to restructure the qualification The BTF has done as much as possible pathway – a reality that was faced across during the time available to protect the all sports and, from a wider perspective, in integrity of the sport, and to ensure the all other aspects of our lives. athletes have a fair field of play on which to compete. We amended the Event Even so, the BTF’s overarching goal Regulations for the Olympic Boxing remained the same: to ensure a clear, Qualifying Events and the boxing just, and fair pathway to Tokyo 2020. tournament at the Olympic Games Tokyo We have done our best to achieve that 2020 with specific changes to deliver goal, and we empathise with all teams our commitment to transparency while and athletes (not only in boxing, but minimising the impact on boxers. We have across all sports) who have experienced also implemented new scoring procedures, challenges and disruptions posed by these introduced a new selection process for unprecedented times in their quest for technical officials, and brought in a new their Olympic dream. ranking and seeding system. Furthermore, Dear members of the media, we have enlisted an external independent Finally, we are here: the best boxers of auditor to guarantee that all procedures the world in Tokyo. Only some of them Welcome to the Olympic Games Tokyo are followed and that the results of these will fulfil their dream to finish on top of 2020 – and to the Kokugikan Arena, the processes can be trusted by all. the Olympic podium, but we trust that venue for the 13 boxing events (eight men’s all participants will enjoy a unique events, five women’s events) at the Olympic This has been an inclusive process, experience – and that the Olympic Games Games. From 24 July to 8 August, athletes involving Athlete Ambassadors, a group Tokyo 2020 will be a true showcase and viewers will be able to enjoy Japanese of experts, National Federations (NFs), of Olympic values, as well as a turning culture while watching the boxers in action National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and point for the sport. in one of the most iconic venues of this most importantly the athletes: we have summer’s Games. listened to their voices and kept them at the Once again, we would like to thank you heart of all our decisions. We would not have for your interest in OIympic boxing, and We are arriving here after a long, difficult been able to achieve our mission without the we wish you all good luck in the coming and ultimately rewarding journey that support and trust of so many individuals and days in Tokyo! began in 2019, when the 134th IOC Session organisations, and ultimately of the whole decided to suspend the recognition of the boxing community. It is now time to thank International Boxing Association (AIBA). them for their commitment and trust on the At the same time, the IOC decided to retain Boxing Road to Tokyo. boxing on the Olympic programme for Tokyo 2020. The IOC Boxing Task Force Some 291 boxers from 80 nations and (BTF), which I represent, was created to the Refugee Olympic Team have qualified Mr Morinari Watanabe develop a qualification system for the sport to compete at the Olympic Games Tokyo Chair, IOC Boxing Task Force Boxing Task Force 02 Boxing Task Force Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 Boxing Media Guide 5 02 IOC BOXiNG TASK FORCE Boxing Task Force 02 IOC Boxing Task Force Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 Boxing Media Guide 6 THE IOC BoxiNG Task FORCE The IOC Boxing Task Force (BTF) was Mission • Willi Kaltschmitt Luján, an IOC Executive created by the IOC Executive Board in June Board member from Guatemala 2019. This was in line with the decision at The mandate of the BTF is to create a clear, the 134th IOC Session to keep boxing on the just and fair qualification pathway for boxers • William Frederick Blick, an IOC Member sports programme for Tokyo 2020, but to to realise their dream of competing at the from Uganda suspend IOC recognition of the International Olympic Games in Tokyo. The Tokyo 2020 Boxing Association (AIBA) due to concerns tournament will feature 291 boxers (188 men, • Marius Vizer, President of the International over finance, governance, ethics, and 103 women) competing in 13 weight classes Judo Federation from Austria refereeing and judging. (eight for men, five for women). • Aya Medany, an IOC Athletes’ Commission The IOC Executive Board gave the BTF the member from Egypt mandate to organise and deliver the Olympic Members Boxing Qualifying Events and the Olympic The BTF is composed of five members: Athlete Ambassadors Group boxing tournament at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. • Morinari Watanabe (Chair), an The BTF created the Athlete Ambassadors IOC Member and President of the Group to engage with and represent boxers, International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) and to promote the athletes’ voice – which from Japan is central to the Olympic Movement – within Boxing Task Force 02 IOC Boxing Task Force Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 Boxing Media Guide 7 boxing. The Athlete Ambassadors Group Technical team International Technical Officials (ITOs): is composed of 10 boxers, one man and The Tokyo 2020 boxing competition will one woman from each of the five regions, The BTF is supported by a dedicated feature 14 female ITOs out of a total of 58. providing gender balance and global management team that includes boxing This is an increase from Rio 2016, where representation: technical staff, who help manage and deliver 6 of the 63 ITOs were women. the Olympic Boxing Qualifying Events and • Africa: Lukmon Lawal (NGR) and the Olympic boxing tournament. This team BTF Athlete Ambassadors: All regions Khadija Mardi (MAR) is supported by a group of experts, which are represented by both a male and a includes members of selected boxing female athlete. • Americas: Julio César La Cruz Peraza federations, athletes, representatives of (CUB) and Mikaela Mayer (USA) combat sports and medical personnel. Competition schedule: The first boxing gold medal of the Games will be awarded to • Asia: Hu Jianguan (CHN) and a woman – in the Feather (54-57kg) class. Mary Kom (IND) Key BTF implementations New for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, men and women’s bouts will alternate as • Europe: Vasyl Lomachenko (UKR) and The BTF has introduced a number of the closing bouts of the sessions. Sarah Ourahmoune (FRA) innovations for the Olympic Boxing Qualifying Events and the Olympic boxing • Transparent scoring • Oceania: David Nyika (NZL) and tournament at Tokyo 2020: Scores are now publicly displayed at the Shelley Watts (AUS) end of each round and there is additional • Gender equality clarity on judging criteria. Their primary roles are to represent the Athletes: The Tokyo 2020 boxing athletes’ voice in BTF planning, engage competition will feature 188 men and 103 • Objective and transparent referee and with boxers, and promote a sustained women, compared to 250 men and 36 judge appointments and assessments athletes’ voice and representation in the women at Rio 2016. The number women’s The pool of eligible technical officials sport. The Group actively contributed weight categories has been increased from considered for the Olympic Boxing to BTF decision-making processes three at Rio 2016 to five at Tokyo 2020, and Qualifying Events and the Olympic Games along the Boxing Road to Tokyo and the number of men’s weight categories has Tokyo 2020 has been determined based in the lead-up to the Olympic Games been reduced from ten at Rio 2016 to eight on background checks and completion of Tokyo 2020. at Tokyo 2020. ethics exams. A random selection process under the supervision of an external auditor has been followed to confirm the officials for each competition. Technical officials are monitored and evaluated on a daily basis throughout competition. • Compulsory prevention course on competition manipulation All Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 qualified athletes, team officials and technical officials must have completed this training. • Enhanced medical procedures Thorough post-bout medical reviews and daily training sessions with local medical staff. Boxing Task Force 03 Olympic Qualification Pathway Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 Boxing Media Guide 8 03 OLYMPiC QUALiFiCATiON PATHWAY Boxing Task Force 03 Olympic Qualification Pathway Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 Boxing Media Guide 9 OlympiC QualiFicatiON PatHway The BTF is in charge of delivering the African Qualifying Event 2021, but was cancelled due to the travel Boxing Road to Tokyo Olympic Boxing Dakar (SEN), 20-29 February 2020 restrictions and lockdowns implemented Qualifying Events. A total of 291 boxers across the region caused by COVID-19. (188 men and 103 women) have reached The first Boxing Road to Tokyo Olympic the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.