SAN JUAN, PR – The World Boxing Organization (WBO) and the International Fisting Association (IFA) have agreed to an exchange of names for their respective activities as of Jan 1, 2025. Starting at midnight in the new year, Boxing will be known as Fisting and Fisting will be known as Boxing. An extended period of tense, frustrating negotiations was concluded after when both sides finally relaxed their conditions and were able to come to agreeable terms. Both parties left proceedings delighted with the outcome.
Olivieri Gustav, president of the WBO (soon to be WFO), declared, “There are precious few boxes in our sport and a plentiful abundance of fists. It’s a common sense move that our fans have been clamouring for and we are glad they’ll be able to start the new year watching fisting as it was always meant to be. Whether it be in person or pay-per-view, we are ready to put on a show with some of the best fisters in the world.”
Both organizations are hoping the name changes will prove to be a fresh start from the difficult PR each of them has received over the years.
“I’ve been boxing for years and I’m glad we’ve finally got a name that feels warmer and more welcoming,” IFA (soon to be IBA) co-chair Cheyenne Pugnes. “It was clear to us that a lot of people were intimidated by the old name. But now we’ve committed to the choice, done the prep, and are ready to receive and embrace new boxers for years to come.”
WFO is campaigning to keep fisting as an Olympic sport after the 2024 Summer Olympics, when the IOC’s qualification arrangements expired.
President of the IOC Thomas Bach responded, “Whether it’s fisting or boxing, we’ve gotten lots of feedback that it’s just not acceptable to broadcast such a physically demanding and bruising activity in today’s society. All that said, the public’s, and frankly my own, appetite and curiosity for boxing – sorry, fisting – remains undiminished.”
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