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AIBA celebrates 100 days to go until 2021 Men’s World Boxing Championships

July 16th, 2021 / IBA

AIBA is celebrating the milestone of 100 days to go until the Men’s World Boxing Championships in Belgrade, Serbia by promoting solidarity during the ongoing challenging times with COVID-19 and encouraging the global boxing community to stay united through its shared passion.

AIBA’s flagship tournament, which will be held from 26 October – 6 November 2021 will be a key event in the boxing calendar this year, with the world’s best athletes set to compete in the Serbian capital. The delivery of the World Championships will be overseen by the President of Serbia, Mr. Aleksandar Vučić, who is the Head of the Local Organising Committee (LOC).

Legendary boxer Roy Jones Jr. and famous Serbian actor Miloš Biković  are official Ambassadors for the World Championships and will play a key role in the global promotion of the event. There will be significant prize money for athletes in Belgrade, with winners receiving CHF 100,000, whilst there is CHF 50,000 and CHF 25,000 for athletes finishing in second and third place respectively.

Reflecting on the 100 days to go milestone, AIBA President Mr. Umar Kremlev expressed his desire for the World Championships to represent a beacon of hope as the world begins to emerge from the pandemic:

‘The life of an athlete in normal circumstances is extremely challenging and the pandemic has made things even harder. At AIBA, we’re proud of the way our sport’s athletes have continued to work hard in pursuit of their dreams. They are an example of tenacity and perseverance, which we should all follow. The World Championships in Belgrade will be an opportunity for them to show the world the fruits of their labour and it is our job at AIBA to provide them with the best possible platform to excel.

‘My ultimate goal as President of AIBA is to create an environment that supports athletes and allows them to fulfil their ambitions. The progress we have made, and will continue to make, from a reform perspective will play a key role in this and it will be evident at the World Championships in Belgrade. We are placing significant emphasis on improving the transparency of our sport, as well as our governance. With 100 days to go, I want to thank all athletes for helping unite the global boxing community and I urge them to continue working hard in the build up to the tournament. I also wish to assure them that AIBA is working tirelessly to ensure the World Championships is a fair, transparent and memorable occasion.’

Following a recent decision by the AIBA Executive Board, the number of weight categories at this year’s World Championships will increase from 10 to 13. Additional detail on this can be found here.