Lausanne, Switzerland – The International Boxing Association (IBA) is expanding its commitment to high‑level education and development for its global community of Coaches and Referees & Judges (R&Js), announcing a new opportunity in partnership with the World Boxing Association (WBA).

As IBA advances its work toward launching a series of new professional boxing initiatives, strengthening the capabilities of its officials has become a key strategic priority. Building on the strong response to previous joint certification courses for R&Js, Coaches, and ITOs, the IBA and WBA will once again collaborate to deliver a professional training programme designed to elevate knowledge, skills, and understanding across both the theoretical and practical dimensions of the sport.

The online training will take place 25 April 2026, commencing at 13:00 CET, and will be delivered in both of IBA’s official languages: English and Spanish. The course is free of charge and open exclusively to IBA Coaches (2 and 3‑Star) and IBA 3‑Star R&Js who wish to gain deeper insight into the professional boxing environment as part of the association’s Continuous Professional Development (CPD) pathway.

“Creating genuine professional pathways for our officials is a core priority for the IBA, said IBA Secretary General & CEO, Chris Roberts OBE. This collaboration with the WBA demonstrates our commitment to providing high‑level development opportunities that strengthen both our sport and the people who drive it. As we prepare to launch new professional projects, ensuring our Coaches and R&Js are equipped with the right skills and expertise has never been more important.”

Participation will be limited to 15 selected registered Coaches and 15 selected registered R&Js; successful candidates will be notified by the IBA Development Department and provided with the details for the course no later than 15 April. Those not chosen will be also notified and added to a waiting list to complete a later course when available.

Interested individuals must complete the Registration Form found here no later than 10 April 2026.