Kazakhstan's world boxing champions will miss the World Championship
The International Boxing Association (IBA) announced a record prize pool for the 2025 men’s World Championship, which will be held in Dubai this December. According to the IBA press service, winners of the tournament will be able to earn $300,000 each, the highest prize money ever for such a tournament.
"At the event, the IBA will host the best global talents in the region, all of them fighting for a chance to claim championship glory and compete for $8 million in prize money. With an astounding $300,000 for the winner of each category, the tournament will be the richest in the history of the sport," states the IBA press release.
It is important to note that in 2025, both IBA and World Boxing will hold independent world championships, allowing the same athletes to participate in both.
As a result, Alua Balkibekova and Aida Abikeeva became two-time world champions in one year, winning the IBA tournament in March and the World Boxing tournament in September.
This situation arose after the International Olympic Committee withdrew IBA’s accreditation for holding Olympic boxing qualification events. To replace the organization, World Boxing was created.
Currently, there is no ban preventing athletes from competing under different organizations. As a result, in March, the IBA held a women’s World Championship, in September, World Boxing held a combined tournament, and in December, the IBA plans to host the men’s tournament.
Kazakhstan's team for the IBA World Boxing Championship
At the moment, no final decision has been made regarding Kazakhstan’s participation in the IBA World Championship.
However, even if Kazakhstan's team competes in Dubai, they will do so without their leaders who won gold at the World Championship in Liverpool.
"We want to give a chance to younger athletes and, on the other hand, more experienced athletes who are not the top names in their weight categories. World Boxing champions – Mahmud and Torekhan Sabrykhan, Sanjar Tashkenbay, and Aibek Oralbay will definitely not go to the IBA tournament," explained Rauan Igenyev, executive director of the Kazakhstan Boxing Federation, in an interview with Tengrinews.
It is also likely that starting next season, IBA and World Boxing tournaments within Kazakhstan will no longer be considered equal. Only medals from the World Boxing tournament will be funded by the state.
It is important to note that World Boxing, unlike the IBA, does not offer prize money for the organization.
Kazakhstan's men's boxing team won four gold medals at the World Championship and placed second in the medal standings. At the same time, Kazakhstan’s team won both the combined men’s and women’s tournaments.
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Публикация от World Boxing (@officialworldboxing)