<p>LAUSANNE, Switzerland — A global boxing qualifying tournament for the Tokyo Olympics has been canceled and a European event was postponed from April to June.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://boxing.athlete365.org/tokyo-2020-boxing-olympic-qualifying-path-to-be-restructured/">International Olympic Committee said</a> Tuesday plans were changed because of “current challenges to international travel and related restrictions in many countries” during the coronavirus pandemic.</p>
<p>Boxers worldwide were to compete for 53 places in the Tokyo lineup at a tournament in Paris in June. </p>
<p>Those places will now be allocated equally across continents by world rankings based on results since 2017, the IOC said.</p>
<p>Olympic entries from Africa and the Asia-Oceania region will now be allocated by rankings while boxers in the Americas and Europe can still earn qualifying places in the ring.</p>
<p>An Americas tournament is scheduled for May 10-16 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the European qualifiers should be in June at a venue to be decided.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://apnews.com/article/5cd2ca96078b907422be1948eaaaf321">European event began in London</a> last March then was stopped after three of 11 scheduled days when the pandemic was declared. London was to have hosted the postponed event this April.</p>
<p>An IOC-appointed panel is organizing the Tokyo boxing tournaments after recognition of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) was suspended over governance and finance issues.</p>
<p>There will be eight men’s weight classes and five women’s weight classes at the Tokyo Olympics, which are set to open July 23.</p>
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