Petition to: International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the LA28 Organizing Committee We, the undersigned, call upon the International Paralympic Committee and the organizers of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Games to officially recognize and include Adaptive Boxing as a medal sport for the 2028 Paralympic Games. Boxing is a globally recognized, disciplined sport that fosters determination, strength, and skill. Disabled individuals around the world are already training and competing in adaptive boxing, but they are currently denied the opportunity to showcase their athleticism on the world's biggest stage: the Paralympics. We believe it is time to change this. Our case for the inclusion of Adaptive Boxing is built on several key arguments: 1. The Precedent of High-Contact Sports in the Paralympics The Paralympics already successfully feature highly competitive, physical, and high-contact team sports. For instance, Sledge Hockey (Ice Hockey) is known for its speed and significant impacts, while Wheelchair Rugby (often called "Murderball") and Wheelchair Basketball are intense, physical sports with frequent collisions. If the IPC safely and successfully manages classification and safety for these dynamic contact sports, there is no logistical or safety barrier to introducing Adaptive Boxing. Like all Paralympic sports, adaptive boxing would incorporate rigorous safety protocols, appropriate protective equipment, and specialized classification systems based on impairment type to ensure fair and safe competition. 2. Social Progression and Challenging Stereotypes Excluding combat sports from the Paralympics reinforces outdated and harmful stereotypes that people with disabilities are "fragile" or cannot participate in certain types of physically demanding or assertive activities. Including Adaptive Boxing would be a powerful statement of social progression and true inclusion. It would demonstrate that disabled athletes have the same right to choose their sport—and to compete at the highest level—as able-bodied athletes, including in the disciplined art of combat sports. Adaptive boxing programs already exist worldwide, providing therapeutic and competitive benefits. The Paralympics should reflect this reality. 3. Fair Opportunity and Consistency in Eligibility We advocate for fair and consistent opportunities for all athletes. If major international sporting bodies like the IOC are demonstrating evolving and inclusive approaches to participation eligibility based on detailed criteria, then the IPC must also ensure that consenting adult disabled athletes have equal opportunities to compete. If eligibility standards evolve to include diverse participation in the Olympics, it is only fair that disabled athletes are not excluded from categories they are qualified for. When two consenting adult disabled individuals choose to compete against each other in a controlled, classified, and refereed boxing ring, they should have the opportunity to do so at the Paralympic level, just as any other athlete. Conclusion: Adding Adaptive Boxing to the LA28 Paralympics would make the games more inclusive, diverse, and exciting. It would honor the dedication of thousands of adaptive boxers globally and provide a platform for these athletes to inspire the world. We urge the IPC and LA28 organizers to review the inclusion of Adaptive Boxing and pave the way for a more inclusive future for combat sports.