A new format combining video gaming and live boxing will debut in Istanbul, giving athletes another chance to compete for prizes and showcasing IBA’s plans to develop the sport through digital technology.

The International Boxing Association (IBA) will present phygital boxing, a new format that combines a contest on a games console with a bout in the ring, in Istanbul on 3 December during the final stages of the inaugural IBA President’s Cup.

Athletes will compete in two connected stages: a digital boxing contest using game controllers, followed by a live bout. Results from both stages will count towards the overall result.

Two stages, one winner

The competition will begin with a digital contest played on IBA GAME, a boxing video game developed as part of IBA’s digital initiatives. The two athletes will play against each other using game controllers, with the action shown on a large screen inside the arena. They will then move from the virtual environment into the ring for the physical stage.

The physical stage will carry slightly more weight in the overall score, while performance in the video game will remain an important part of the result.

A new opportunity for President’s Cup participants

The competition will be open to President’s Cup boxers who have been eliminated from the tournament and are fit to compete. It will give them another chance to show their skills in a different competitive environment, combining their experience in the ring with the challenge of digital boxing.

Athletes will be able to register and practise on the game at the IBA GAME corner during the qualifying stage of the President’s Cup.Further details will be communicated to participating teams and athletes.

IBA GAME to support the development of digital boxing

IBA GAME is designed to support digital boxing contests and the development of phygital competitions. The aim is to create a technological platform for future international tournaments tha

t connects traditional boxing with esports and interactive entertainment.

Both competitors will play under identical conditions. Physical bouts will remain subject to IBA rules, with officiating and athlete safety overseen by IBA officials.

Looking ahead

The Istanbul presentation is the first step towards establishing phygital boxing as a new competitive format. The initiative will also feature at the IBA Global Boxing Forum on 4 December, where footage from the competition is expected to be shown to delegates and international stakeholders.

By bringing digital and physical boxing together, IBA aims to develop a format that retains the sporting foundations of boxing while creating new ways for athletes to compete and fans to engage with the sport.