The International Boxing Association (IBA) has officially announced that the 2025 IBA Men’s Elite World Championships will take place from December 2 to 13 at Dubai’s National Tennis Stadium, forming the centrepiece of a two-week global “Festival of Boxing.” With an unprecedented $8 million prize pool, the event is being hailed as the richest in the history of amateur boxing.
IBA Men’s Elite World Championships 2025: Record Prize Money
The headline figure- $300,000 for every gold medalist- signals the IBA’s most aggressive investment yet in its premier event. Silver medalists will earn $150,000, bronze winners $75,000, and even fifth-place finishers will receive $10,000, making the Championships financially transformative for athletes.
In a structure designed to spread the benefits across national programs, prize money will be split:
- 50% to the boxer
- 25% to the coach
- 25% to the national federation
According to World Boxing News (WBN), IBA President Umar Kremlev emphasized the Championship’s deeper mission: “This World Championships is not just about records and prize money– it is about giving every boxer, every coach and every National Federation the respect and reward they deserve,” Kremlev said.
He added that Dubai will become the “capital of world boxing” in December, a sentiment echoed across the organization.
A Celebration of Boxing Beyond the Ring
IBA Secretary General and CEO Chris Roberts OBE described the upcoming IBA Men’s Elite World Championships as far more than an athletic showdown. “The IBA Men’s Elite World Championships in Dubai this December will be more than a competition, it will be a celebration of boxing in all its forms,” Roberts said.
The two-week festival will include:
- The IBA Congress
- A top-tier IBA Pro Event
- The Global Boxing Forum
- Cultural programs and fan-centered events throughout Dubai
The Festival aims to showcase boxing’s full ecosystem- from amateur development to elite professional showmanship.
A Growing Divide in World Boxing Governance
The announcement comes amid a continued split in global amateur boxing governance. While World Boxing- the federation recognized by the IOC- staged its own World Championships in Liverpool in September (without Armenia’s participation), the IBA continues to operate independently, organizing increasingly lavish and high-profile events.
Despite the political divide, the IBA reports that “a host of the world’s most decorated elite amateur boxers” have already confirmed their participation for Dubai 2025, positioning the event as the year’s premier non-Olympic tournament.
Armenia Expected to Compete
Notably, Armenia- which did not participate in the recent World Boxing championships in Liverpool- is expected to field a team in Dubai. For nations navigating the dual-governing landscape, the IBA’s lucrative prize structure may offer compelling incentives to return to its competitions.
The IBA’s Vision: Unity, Opportunity, and a New Era
The IBA says the record prize fund reflects President Kremlev’s commitment to grassroots development, financial fairness, and global accessibility in the sport.“Dubai will become the capital of boxing this December, where athletes from every corner of the globe will compete on equal terms, under their own flags, and with a chance to change their lives,” Kremlev said in a recent statement.
With more than 75 years of institutional history, the IBA continues to position itself as the guardian of boxing tradition- even as governance debates swirl around Olympic qualification.
Also Read: 5 Legendary Boxing Fights of All Time
A Global Showcase Set to Define 2025
As anticipation builds, the IBA promises that further details about the Festival of Boxing will be announced in the coming months. What is already clear, however, is that the 2025 Men’s Elite World Championships will blend elite sport, global unity, and entertainment value on a scale rarely seen in amateur boxing.
The IBA described the event as “a show-stopping spectacle that will echo through the ages.” If early signals hold true, Dubai is poised to host one of the most consequential and lucrative boxing events in the sport’s modern history.
