Ontario Suspends Betting on World Boxing Association Events

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, Canada's gaming regulator, has instructed licensed bookmakers to halt betting on events organized by the World Boxing Association (WBA). The decision comes amid concerns that WBA fights may not have sufficient safeguards against match fixing and manipulation of outcomes.

The commission's decision follows suspicions raised during the December 2023 fight between Yoenis Telles and Lebanon Navarro. Two independent sports integrity experts, along with a licensed betting operator, identified suspicious betting patterns surrounding the fight. Telles' manager reportedly placed a $110,000 bet on the fight, predicting that it would last more than 5.5 rounds—an outcome that materialized.

In light of these findings, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission determined that WBA events did not meet the required integrity standards for sports in Ontario. However, the suspension is not permanent, and WBA events could be reinstated for betting if the organization addresses the identified shortcomings to ensure integrity in its matches.