The International Boxing Association (IBA) has officially announced the host countries for the 2025 World Boxing Championships, both women’s and men’s.
HIBAPRESS-RABAT-IBA
Belgrade, Serbia, will host the women’s edition in March 2025, while Astana, Kazakhstan, will stage the men’s edition in May 2025.
Initially, the Kazakhstan Boxing Federation had applied to host the Women’s World Championships. However, it proposed to switch to the men’s event, a substitution that the IBA headquarters readily accepted.
“The choice of host nations reflects our commitment to expanding the reach of boxing globally,” said IBA President Umar Kremlev. “Both countries have a rich boxing tradition and are well prepared to host world-class events, as well as showcase impressive sporting achievements. We look forward to seeing the best athletes from around the world compete in these prestigious IBA tournaments.”
Belgrade has already hosted two IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships in 1978 and 2021. Astana, meanwhile, hosted a women’s event in 2016.
Having successfully hosted IBA events in the past, we are confident that the next two World Championships will be held to an even higher standard. We invite the whole world to watch their favourite boxers in action. The medallists will receive significant prizes and the fund will be increased for the 2025 editions,” President Kremlev added.
IBA Secretary General and Chief Executive Chris Roberts OBE stressed that the change in schedule was intended to give athletes an equal opportunity to succeed.
“2024 has been a busy year so far for our boxers, and after a number of government consultations we have decided to stage both the men’s and women’s events in 2025 to give athletes a fair chance of winning lucrative prize money. Our athletes are at the heart of what we do and everything we do, we do for their wellbeing,” said Chris Roberts OBE.
The change in Astana from the women’s world boxing championship to the men’s world boxing championship will be subject to ratification at the next IBA board meeting in Havana, Cuba.
