The International Boxing Association (IBA) has confirmed the venues for the inaugural President’s Cup in Istanbul, Türkiye, with Bağcılar Göztepe Sports Complex hosting the preliminary bouts and Sinan Erdem Dome staging the finals.

The preliminary bouts will take place at Bağcılar Göztepe Sports Complex from 27 November to 3 December. Located in the Bağcılar district on the European side of the city, the complex will welcome boxers from around the world as they compete for places in the finals across 12 men’s weight categories.

The tournament will conclude on 4 December at Sinan Erdem Dome. As Türkiye’s largest multi-purpose indoor venue, Sinan Erdem has staged the final of the 2010 FIBA World Championship, the EuroLeague Final Four and, earlier this year, the final of the CEV Women’s European Volleyball Championship.

On finals day, the 12 President’s Cup finals will share the programme with IBA.PRO and IBA Bare Knuckle bouts, headlined by two-time Olympic champion Hasanboy Dusmatov’s challenge for the IBA.PRO world title.

The President’s Cup finals will form part of a major gathering of the international boxing community in Istanbul. The Global Boxing Forum will take place on 4 December, bringing together representatives of the sport to discuss its development and future, and the IBA Ordinary Election Congress will follow on 5 December.

“Both venues will provide an outstanding setting for the inaugural President’s Cup. Bağcılar Göztepe Sports Complex will host the early rounds, where every boxer will compete for a place in the finals, while Sinan Erdem is one of the great arenas in Türkiye and a fitting stage for our first President’s Cup champions to be crowned.

“Istanbul is the perfect host for a landmark week of boxing. With the President’s Cup, the Global Boxing Forum and our Election Congress all taking place here, athletes, coaches, National Federations and officials from around the world will come together in one city, and we are proud to share this moment with them,” IBA Secretary General and CEO Chris Roberts OBE said.

The President’s Cup marks the launch of IBA Elite and features a total prize fund of USD 3 million, with gold medallists receiving USD 100,000, silver medallists USD 50,000 and bronze medallists USD 25,000 in each weight category. 

The competition will also open a new IBA World Ranking cycle, with results contributing to qualification for future editions of the President’s Cup and the IBA World Championships.