World Boxing has expanded its membership to 51 nations, approving seven new applicants in a push to keep boxing within the Olympic Movement, the organization announced on Wednesday.

The recent additions include national boxing federations from Andorra, Belgium, Iraq, Lithuania, Madagascar, Kyrgyzstan and Thailand, further solidifying the foundation of the international governing body, which was founded only last year.

“This milestone of surpassing 50 members demonstrates both the demand for reform in global boxing and the broad recognition that boxing must remain part of the Olympic Games,” World Boxing President Boris van der Vorst said. “I am grateful for the support of boxing leaders worldwide, and I look forward to welcoming more members as we continue to grow.”

The announcement comes as World Boxing hosts its first U19 World Boxing Championships in Pueblo, Colorado, from October 26 through November 2. The competition, held at the Pueblo Convention Center, will conclude just before World Boxing’s second annual Congress on November 3.

Established in April 2023, World Boxing appointed Gennady Golovkin, a former two-time unified middleweight titleholder and the current president of Kazakhstan's National Olympic Committee, as head of its Olympic Commission, which is aimed at securing boxing’s reinstatement in the Olympic Games.

Said van der Vorst: “The momentum is building, and I look forward to announcing more members in the near future as we are continuing to process applications from more and more countries who recognize that joining World Boxing is the only way to ensuring that their boxers will be able to pursue their dreams of competing on the biggest stage in sport at the Olympic Games.”