The International Boxing Association (IBA) held a press conference at the Çırağan Palace Kempinski in Istanbul on 6 October, where IBA President Umar Kremlev, Secretary General and CEO Chris Roberts OBE and British heavyweight Derek Chisora addressed international media.

The speakers discussed prize money for the organisation’s flagship tournaments, the inaugural IBA President’s Cup and the forthcoming Elective Congress, new projects for boxers and fans, and the IBA’s relations with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and World Boxing.

World Championships prize fund to reach $20 million

The IBA will stage its next World Championships with a prize fund of 20 million US dollars, with each gold medallist receiving one million dollars, the IBA President announced.

“The main tournament for the IBA is the World Championships. As you will remember, the World Championships in Dubai had a prize fund of 8 million US dollars. At the next World Championships we will have a prize fund of 20 million US dollars. The boxer who takes first place will receive one million dollars,” Umar Kremlev said.

“Everything the International Boxing Association earns belongs to the coaches and athletes, because it is thanks to them that our international boxing home exists. We must do everything to ensure the best conditions are created for our athletes,” he said.

Derek Chisora targets December bout with Murat Gassiev as IBA President backs the idea

Derek Chisora used the press conference to reveal plans for his next bout. The British heavyweight said he intends to face WBA regular champion Murat Gassiev in December, in either London or Manchester, with the IBA and WBA belts on the line.

“In December it will be me versus Gassiev. We are going to decide where, either London or Manchester, and we are going to put two belts on the line. Let’s have fun with it,” Derek Chisora said.

“I absolutely agree, and I am ready to support it. It is a very good idea,” Umar Kremlev said.

Chisora also praised the organisation’s work with boxers around the world.

“They give opportunities to everybody: amateurs, boxers from Africa, from many different places. They are in it to develop boxing and to give opportunities to the younger guys. What the IBA does is unbelievable,” he said.

Relations with the IOC

Asked about relations with the IOC, the IBA President welcomed the approach taken by its current leadership.

“The situation with the International Olympic Committee was a ridiculous mistake made by the previous leadership of the IOC. But the new leadership is very positive and is working to resolve the problems and issues created by the previous management. This is a very positive trend.

“They accepted our recommendations regarding gender equality, so it turned out that the IBA was right. We repeatedly suggested prize money at the Olympic Games, and finally they introduced it. Again, it proves the point: the IBA was right. The IOC followed our advice, and we are very happy to see that.

“I am also happy to see that the new leadership of the IOC is addressing the issue of independence. Lately the IOC has been saying that there is no place for politics in sport. This is something the IBA has been saying from the very beginning. Sport is there to unite people.

“I can only sincerely thank the International Olympic Committee for correcting the mistakes and righting the wrongs of the previous leadership. All international sports associations should call only for peace, and the best athletes should be on the podium. Sports federations are there to protect the interests of athletes and coaches, and the paramount interest of any athlete is to be able to represent their country and their people.

“Right now all the international associations are trying to correct earlier mistakes, and I am happy to see the reinstatement of Russian sports federations in many sports. This is exactly how it should be. We should be independent in our actions and free of politics,” Umar Kremlev said.

Open to cooperation with World Boxing

The IBA President also made clear that the organisation is open to cooperation with World Boxing and its President, Gennady Golovkin, including on the alignment of competition calendars. Olympic champions and medallists will qualify automatically for the IBA World Championships.

“Gennady Golovkin is a legendary athlete and I have deep respect for him. There is no conflict and no standoff whatsoever. We are open to any options. We will design our calendar so that athletes are free to take part in any event they like. The most important thing for us is to create great conditions for boxers,” he said.

New tournaments and projects

Among the other initiatives announced by the IBA President were an IBA NOMAD tournament and the opening of the first IBA gym in Uzbekistan in October, an event in Miami in December, five IBA Bare Knuckle tournaments in the United States next year, and the launch of IBA Punch and the IBA Game mobile game at the Congress. The IBA will also establish an award for journalists covering boxing, to be presented as part of the Global Boxing Forum.

President’s Cup and Congress in Istanbul

The inaugural IBA President’s Cup and the Elective Congress will both take place in Istanbul in December. The President’s Cup will carry a prize fund of 3 million US dollars and will be contested across 12 weight categories. Winners will receive 100,000 US dollars, silver medallists 50,000 and bronze medallists 25,000, while every victory from the opening round onwards will earn the boxer 1,000 US dollars. A women’s edition is planned for next year.

“It will be like a World Championships, of equivalent size and scale. It is an open event and it is going to be a real eye-opener. More than 120 National Federations have already registered for the Congress, and we still have weeks to go,” Chris Roberts said.

IBA Elite and a single pathway for boxers

The Secretary General and CEO also outlined the IBA Elite project, which will give amateur boxing a new look, and the IBA Management platform, which will allow boxers to compete at both IBA Elite and IBA.PRO level under a single ranking system. Ranking points will be awarded from the President’s Cup onwards.