The 2025 Boxing World Championship to Be Held in the UAE: IBA Shifts to a New Cycle and Challenges the Olympics

President of the International Boxing Association (IBA), Umar Kremlev, has announced that the next Boxing World Championship will take place in December 2025 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This event is set to become a milestone not only in terms of location but also as part of IBA’s new strategy to position the World Championships as the premier event in international boxing.

Previously held every three years, the World Championships will now follow a two-year cycle, as confirmed by Kremlev. This change is designed to bring the world's top boxers together more frequently and to provide athletes with more opportunities to showcase their talents on a global stage.

Hosting the championship in the UAE reflects IBA’s ambition to globalize the sport. The UAE has already proven itself as a reliable host for major international competitions, and this move is expected to boost regional interest in boxing and further establish the Middle East as a key player in global sports.

As part of its renewed strategic vision, IBA has announced a prize fund of over $80 million through 2028, including multi-million-dollar rewards for both men’s and women’s world championships. The association has also introduced new formats such as the IBA Champions’ Night, expanded youth programs, and increased financial support for national federations.

All of this is taking place amid a continuing standoff with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). In 2023, the IOC officially removed IBA from its list of recognized sports bodies, revoking its right to organize Olympic boxing events. In response, a new governing body — World Boxing — was formed, supported by the IOC and set to oversee boxing at the 2028 Olympics. However, Kremlev remains defiant, stating that the Olympics are becoming "a competition for children," while IBA’s world championships are the true platform for elite-level boxing.

“We are building an ecosystem where athletes have confidence in their future. Boxing must remain independent of political games,” Kremlev said in a recent interview.

Thus, the 2025 World Championship in the UAE is shaping up to be more than just a sporting event — it will be a turning point in the evolution of global boxing, where IBA aims to assert its own standards and reclaim leadership in the sport, regardless of its status with the Olympic movement.