African Boxers Get 14 Berths For 2028 Olympics

Africa has received just 14 direct qualification berths for the boxing tournament at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics – a decline from the 18 spots the continent was allocated ahead of the Paris 2024 Games.

The new quota distribution, confirmed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and World Boxing, grants Africa and Oceania one quota place per weight category. In contrast, Asia, Europe, and the Pan-American region each receive two spots per weight class for both men and women.

The 14 weight divisions are evenly split between genders. Women will compete in seven classes: 51kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg, 65kg, 70kg, and 75kg. The men’s categories are 55kg, 60kg, 65kg, 70kg, 80kg, 90kg, and over 90kg.

African boxers will have multiple pathways to secure Olympic qualification across four distinct stages. The first opportunity comes at the 2027 World Boxing Championships, scheduled for April 2027 in Astana, Kazakhstan, which will offer a total of 44 quota places. In the first four Olympic weight categories for each gender, all semi-finalists will earn a spot; for the remaining categories, only the finalists will qualify.

Following the world championships, each continent will organize its own qualifying event. Africa’s continental qualifier will award one quota per weight class.

A further 46 places are up for grabs at the first World Qualifier, while a second and final World Qualifier will provide between 28 and 36 spots – the exact number depending on how many host-country berths the United States has already secured.

As the host nation, the United States is guaranteed a maximum of six quota places (three per gender). Any quotas already earned by U.S. boxers through other qualifying events will be deducted from that guaranteed total.

In addition, eight universality spots (four per gender) will be made available for eligible nations. To qualify for these, the nominated boxer must have participated in at least one of the designated qualification tournaments. Athletes must also meet age requirements, with birth dates falling between January 1, 1988, and December 31, 2009.

At the Paris 2024 Games, Africa ultimately sent 22 boxers after a last-minute withdrawal and a doping exclusion reduced what had initially been a group of 24. Algeria led the African contingent with five athletes, followed by Morocco and Egypt with three each.