President of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst, arrived in Jamaica on Saturday night to begin a five-day working visit aimed at strengthening ties with the local boxing community and exploring ways to elevate the sport both regionally and internationally.
Touching down at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, van der Vorst was warmly welcomed by members of the Jamaican boxing fraternity, including President of the Jamaica Boxing Association (JBA), Stephen “Bomber” Jones, who has been a staunch supporter of World Boxing since its inception.
“For me, it's a great pleasure to be here in Jamaica,” van der Vorst said shortly after arriving. “Thank you first of all for the warm welcome. And the president for the Jamaica Boxing Federation, Mr. Bomber, is a great friend of mine. He is a true supporter from the beginning of World Boxing. Jamaica was one of the pillars of boxing and part of the inaugural congress in 2023. Since then, the JBA has remained a leader in the Caribbean region. Together, we hope to further develop the region.”
The World Boxing president will be in the country until Wednesday, April 2, and will visit boxing programs at the grassroots level in Montego Bay and Kingston. He is also scheduled to meet with key stakeholders, including Minister of Sport Olivia Grange, Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) President Christopher Samuda, and other members of the local boxing community.
Van der Vorst emphasized his belief in Jamaica’s potential to produce world-class talent.
“I expect Jamaican boxing to grow and develop new world champions under our leadership. That’s why I’m here—to discuss collaboration and how we can move forward, especially after the re-inclusion of boxing in the Olympic programme. This presents great opportunities for Jamaica.”
The recent re-admittance of boxing into the Olympic Games by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was met with enthusiasm by both van der Vorst and Jones, who see it as a pivotal moment for the sport.
“We're very encouraged—not just by his visit, but by what it means for the Caribbean and for boxing in general,” said Jones. “Boxing is one of the oldest Olympic sports. Boris has galvanized a lot of countries to support World Boxing, and making one of his first official visits to the Caribbean is huge for us. This is historical in many ways.”
Van der Vorst also praised Jones’ leadership and his role within the global boxing movement.
“He was part of the first national federation to join World Boxing and has since become a leader in the region. He also sits on the Olympic commission for World Boxing and now serves on the board of the Pan-American Confederation. In all aspects, he’s truly a leader.”
JOA President Christopher Samuda underscored the strategic importance of hosting high-profile international sporting leaders, saying it aligns with the association’s broader mission.
“The JOA has always indicated to our members that one of our strategic goals is to transform Jamaica into a mecca not just for performance, but also in terms of attracting international federation presidents,” said Samuda. “This visit reflects our commitment to enhancing dialogue and development that benefits the Olympic movement.”
As the visit unfolds, all eyes will be on how Jamaica and World Boxing can forge deeper partnerships to enhance training, infrastructure, and competition opportunities for Jamaican boxers. The hope is that this collaboration will not only elevate the sport locally but also inspire the next generation of champions from the island.
Photo caption: World Boxing President Boris van der Vorst (2ndl) and his wife Ingeborg van der Vorst were greeted by Jamaica Boxing Board President Stephen 'Bomber' Jones (left) and Jamaica Olympic Association boss Christopher Samuda a the Sangster International Airport Saturday night for a five-day visit.