Preparations are underway for legal action against the Icelandic State, seeking a judicial ruling on whether Iceland’s ban on professional boxing is compatible with the Constitution of Iceland.
Gunnar Óli Guðjónsson, Chairman of Hafnarfjörður Boxing Club, has led the campaign on behalf of Iceland’s professional boxing community. Attorney Gísli Kr. Björnsson is now working on the preparation of the case.
“The time has come to draw the line. It is 2026, and Iceland still has laws in force that prevent Icelandic boxers from pursuing their profession in their own country,” says Gunnar Óli.
The issue is no longer simply about boxing. It raises a fundamental question concerning freedom of occupation and the constitutional rights of Icelandic citizens.
Article 75 of the Constitution of Iceland states:
“Everyone is free to pursue the occupation of their choosing. This freedom may, however, be restricted by law if required in the public interest.”
Years of Efforts to Change the Law
The planned legal action is the next step in a campaign that has been ongoing for years.
Gunnar Óli was also behind the work that led Member of Parliament Ágúst Bjarni Garðarsson to introduce a bill before the Icelandic Parliament aimed at changing the legislation concerning professional boxing.
Despite repeated efforts to change the law through the political process, the ban remains in place.
Now, a different path will be taken.
“We have tried to change this through the political system. Now it is time for the courts to answer the fundamental question: Can the Icelandic State prohibit an individual from pursuing their profession when the sport itself is legal in Iceland?”
Allowed to Compete – Until They Become Professionals
Gunnar points to what he considers a fundamental contradiction in the current legislation.
Boxing is a legal sport in Iceland. Icelandic boxers are permitted to train and compete in the country under the rules governing amateur boxing.
However, once those same athletes seek to make boxing their profession and compete as professional boxers, they must leave Iceland to do so.
“Icelandic professional boxers are allowed to pursue their careers abroad, but not in their own country. We believe it is time for the courts to determine whether such a restriction on freedom of occupation can still be justified in Iceland in 2026.”
The Ban Will Be Challenged Before the Courts
The preparation of the case will focus, among other things, on Article 75 of the Icelandic Constitution and whether the public-interest grounds that the State may rely upon are sufficient to justify a complete ban on professional boxing.
Gunnar says the issue is not about a single fight or a single athlete.
“This is for Iceland’s professional boxers and for the generations that will follow them. We simply want a clear answer as to whether the Icelandic State has the constitutional authority to prevent people from pursuing this profession in their own country.”
Icelandic professional boxers Kolbeinn Kristinsson, Emin Kadri and Valgerður Guðsteinsdóttir are among those directly affected by the current situation.
Enough is enough.
Freedom to pursue your sport.
Freedom to pursue your profession. 🥊
