GB Boxing’s Chief Executive Matt Holt joins leaders at inaugural European Boxing Championships in Sofia as part of campaign for re-election 

As part of his campaign for re-election as a Vice President of World Boxing, the Chief Executive of GB Boxing, Matt Holt, attended the recent European Boxing Championships in Sofia where he met with colleagues and counterparts from across Europe and watched five members of the GB Boxing squad secure medals as Abdul Burton, Chantelle Reid and Damar Thomas won silver and Callum Makin and Dimeji Shittu came away with bronze.

The European Boxing Championships was the first ever continental championships hosted by the new confederation and was an opportunity for Holt to meet with representatives from boxing National Federations, fellow members of World Boxing’s Executive board and the leadership of European Boxing, including the President, Lars Brovil.

Discussions covered a wide range of issues relating to the ongoing development of international boxing, particularly the actions required for World Boxing to secure full recognition from the IOC, which is one of Holt’s key campaign priorities.

As a current Vice President of World Boxing, Holt was also invited to take part in the medal ceremonies on the final day and presented the medals for the Women’s featherweight (W57kg) category to Hungary’s Vladislava Kukhta, Liudmila Vorontsova of Russia, Ireland’s Micheala Walsh and Esra Yildiz Kahraman of Türkiye.

The President of European Boxing, Lars Brovil, said: “The inaugural European Boxing Championships was a great success and I would like to congratulate all of the boxers that took part, and especially those that won a medal, on delivering a fantastic showcase for European Boxing.  

“The championships were also an opportunity to meet with boxing leaders from across the Continent, including the Chief Executive of GB Boxing, Matt Holt, who made a valuable contribution to the meetings and discussions that took place throughout the week.

“As one of its co-founders, Matt has played an important role in the development of World Boxing and getting the organisation to where it is today and I have no doubt, he can continue to play a positive role in the future development of the sport.”

The elections will take place at World Boxing’s fourth annual Congress on 20 November 2026 when 123 National Federations will be eligible to vote (on a one member one vote basis). A full list of candidates for election is available HERE.