From 11 to 16 July, the International Boxing Association (IBA), together with the Russian Boxing Federation, welcomed a delegation of representatives from the Japanese boxing community to Moscow and Saint Petersburg for a series of high-level meetings and site visits aimed at strengthening international cooperation and exploring new opportunities for the development of boxing.

The Japanese delegation included Shigeru Hiyama, Senior Advisor to the Japan-Russia Boxing Friendship and Exchange Association; Tsutomu Sebe, Vice President of the Kansai District Boxing Federation and Chairman of the Japan-Russia Boxing Friendship and Exchange Association; Takeyuki Tanaka, Supreme Advisor to the Japan-Russia Boxing Friendship and Exchange Association; and Anton Shepelev, Supreme Advisor to the Japan-Russia Boxing Friendship and Exchange Association, Vice President of the Russian Kendo Federation.

During their visit, the delegation held official meetings with IBA President Umar Kremlev, IBA Secretary General & CEO Chris Roberts OBE and Secretary General of the Russian Boxing Federation Alexander Besputin. Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between IBA and the Japanese boxing community, expanding international boxing exchanges and identifying new opportunities for collaboration across several strategic areas.

Among the key topics discussed were the potential organisation of IBA.PRO events and Champions’ Night tournaments in Japan, the development of joint training camps involving Japanese and Russian boxing teams, and broader initiatives aimed at increasing sporting, educational and institutional cooperation between the two countries.

The parties also explored prospects for large-scale collaboration in the field of artificial intelligence, recognising its growing importance in sports education, athlete development, training process and the future evolution of boxing.

As part of their programme, the delegation visited the International Boxing Centre in Moscow, the Boxing Progress Centre and the renowned Lesnaya Opushka training base in Serpukhov, which serves as one of the leading preparation centres for Russian boxers. The Japanese representatives expressed particular interest in the infrastructure, athlete development pathways and educational programmes implemented at these facilities. The experience gained during the visit will contribute to the development of concepts for similar boxing training and development centres in Japan.

The delegation also met with the leadership of the Boxing Federation of Saint Petersburg, where discussions focused on regional boxing development, grassroots participation and opportunities for future cooperation.

A highlight of the visit was attendance at the IBA.PRO 19 boxing event in Moscow, where the delegation witnessed elite-level professional boxing and exchanged views with key stakeholders on the continued growth and international expansion of the sport.

IBA Secretary General & CEO Chris Roberts OBE highlighted the strategic value of the discussions: “International cooperation remains one of the key priorities for IBA. We are delighted to explore new opportunities with our Japanese colleagues across professional boxing, education, technology and athlete development. By working together and sharing best practices, we can create new pathways for growth and innovation within our sport.”

The visit reaffirmed the shared commitment of IBA, the Russian Boxing Federation and the Japanese boxing community to strengthening international dialogue, fostering innovation and creating new opportunities for athletes, coaches and boxing stakeholders worldwide.