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IBA President Umar Kremlev pledges more cash awards for new team competition, continental tournaments in 2026, says organization financially sound with $50m annual sponsorship income

By Elias Makori in Dubai

Picture this: Russia has landed boxers in the finals of all but one of the 13 weight divisions at the IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships here in Dubai.
And with $300,000 (Sh39 million) on offer for each gold medalist (and half the amount for silver winners), in the best-case scenario, should the Russians sweep all their 12 bouts, then they will take home $3.6 million (Sh468 million)
Now, in the International Boxing Federation’s prize money structure, of the winners’ purse, the boxer retains 50 percent of the windfall while 25 percent goes to the winning federation and the remaining 25 percent to the coaches.
“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,” said IBA President Kremlev while unveiling the purse.

Sh1.3 billion Team ‘World Cup’ introduced

And speaking at the IBA’s Ordinary Congress at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel on Saturday morning, Kremlev also announced that a team “World Cup” would be introduced next year with a total purse of $10 million (Sh1.3 billion) with a prize pool of $1 million (Sh130 million) for each of four continental tournaments that will also be organized in 2026.

“Part of these funds will also go to the coaches and federations,” Kremlev told delegates.

“Whatever the IBA earns, this money belongs to you (national federations) because you develop boxing in your countries and you bring boxers to the World Championships,” said Kremlev who also confirmed the IBA’s healthy finances with an budget of $50 million (Sh6.5 billion) drawn from sponsors.
The prize money structure at the IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships here means, in an ideal situation, the Russian federation and coaches will bank $1.8 million (Sh234 million) from Saturday night’s finals should all its boxers triumph.
Or in a worst-case scenario and all 12 Russians are beaten in the finals, then $1.8 million (Sh234 million) will be won by the Russian boxers and $900,000 (Sh117 million) will hit the Russian Boxing Federation accounts at the Luzhnetskaya embankment in Moscow.
Certainly, neither scenario will be the case as the finals will be a hybrid, bearing mixed fortunes.
Only one Russian, featherweight Andrei Peglivanian, failed to reach the final of the two-week championship after he was overpowered 5-0 by Kazakhstan’s Orazbek Assylkulov in the semis on Thursday, pocketing the $75,000 (Sh9.75 million) on offer to bronze medalists.

Boost for Russian boxing development

What is clear is that the Russian federation will have over Sh126,750 million in its coffers from these two weeks of competition – also factoring in the $75,000 (Sh9.75 million) won by losing semi-finalist Peglivanian.
Such a bank balance will certainly boost the sport’s development in Moscow and continue to widen the gulf between Russian amateur boxers and the rest of the world. Or Eastern European boxers and the rest of the world, for that matter, as of the 26 finalists, all are from Easter Europe!
Russia has the most with 12 men in the finals followed by Uzbekistan with six, Kazakhstan with four while Azerbaijan, Belarus, Krygystan and Tajikistan have one boxer each in the finals.
Zambia were Africa’s best performers at these championships with two of its boxers – flyweight Patrick Chiyemba and light welterweight Emmanuel Katema – settling for bronze after falling in the semi-finals to Russia’s Bair Batlaev and Krygystan’s Omar Livaza, respectively.
Just three Africans made it to the semis with, besides the Zambian pair, Mali’s Djibril Traore falling in his middleweight semi-final against Russia’s Ismael Mutsolgov.

Sh9.75 million each for Zambian boxers

With bronze medallists receiving $75,000 (Sh9.75 million) each, the Zambian boxers cashed $150,000 (Sh19.5 million) with Zambia Boxing Federation President Evans Chiponda celebrating a $75,000 (Sh9.75 million) windfall into his federation’s bank balance from the semi-final clashes, half of this amount going to the coaches.
Meanwhile, with $10,000 ($1.3 million) on offer to quarter-finalists, the Boxing Federation of Kenya and the “Hit Squad” coaching staff have banked Sh650,000, half of the amount won by soldier Robert “Man Ngori” Okaka for reaching the last eight in the light heavyweight division.
Okaka lost to Russian finalist Dzhambulat Bizhamov after bravely fighting on despite injuring his hand and briefly losing vision after the long-reaching Russian punished him.
“I thank God because win or lose, it’s God who has brought me this far and helped me to get out of the competition safe,” Okaka told Pura Vida Sports after his contest on Thursday night.
“The Russian was good, had good reach and was sharp. Before you realised it, he would land a jab on you… he was crafty.”

Okaka further analysed his fight: “In the first round, he scored with many jabs and although I tried to counter, I didn’t land good blows because he used his reach advantage well.”
Okaka confessed that Bizhamov struck him with a punch that knocked the living daylights out of him.

Okaka: ‘I didn’t want to give up’

“He landed one punch and my right eye couldn’t see… but I recovered a bit. Then I punched badly with my left hand and felt some pain but I braved it.
“When I went to the corner, the coaches asked me if I was OK and I told them I’m OK, though I knew I was struggling, but I didn’t want to give up.
“I told them my left hand was injured and they (coaches) asked if they should stop the fight but I said I would fight on and face the challenge. I didn’t want to give up.
“In the second round he scored the points, although his punches weren’t too effective. He got me again and I had a challenge with my vision and couldn’t see at all.
“I was afraid he would knock me out because I couldn’t see at all, so I held onto him and recovered a bit and decided to keep boxing. I didn’t come all this way to quit and that’s why I wanted to finish the three rounds.
“I thank God I finished the fight and experienced a good challenge. The Russian has made me now focus on more intensive training. I concede defeat. He had the reach and was smart and I will now go back and train harder after this experience.
“They are more skilled and it needs focus to counter these opponents… in Africa it’s about using the power of ugali, brute force, but here they use power and skills.

Kenyan boxers need more skills

“We have tried as Team Kenya and its good we made it to the quarters. We now need more skills to box beyond Africa. With better skills, we shall certainly perform better,” Okaka added.
Though happy with his bronze medal, Zambia’s welterweight Emmanuel Katema wasn’t too happy with his opponent Krygystan’s Omar Livaza’s “negative” tactics.
“My opponent wasn’t boxing. He was just running around the ring and so I was busy chasing. It’s about endurance and if I didn’t have endurance, I wouldn’t have made it chasing my opponent,” Katema told Pura Vida Sports Africa exclusively after his bout.
“I was looking for the power punch… but anyway, it’s good to be here. It’s not easy to get to this stage at the World Championship. I’m proud of myself, my family, my coaches and everyone who has been pushing me.”
Katema noted that the secret behind the success of Zambian boxing is basically “hard work, training and discipline”, factors that also saw his compatriot Patrick Chiyemba also make the last four where he was dominated by Russia’s Bair Batlaev.
“The fight was great though my opponent was tough… I will go back to the gym and work extra hard so that next time I’m in the final,” Chiyemba reacted.
“To get a medal at the world stage is not easy and it’s a great achievement for Africa to land three boxers in the semi-finals. I feel proud of myself and I will now go back to Zambia and train hard so that next time I reach the final.”

“PacMan” Pacquiao’s moving speech at Congress

Meanwhile, the IBA Ordinary Congress on Saturday was also addressed by Filipino boxing legend Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao who expressed his gratitude at the IBA’s activities and vision.

“I want to express my sincere gratitude for this opportunity. First, I thank our President, Umar Kremlev, for his tireless effort and support for the IBA. Chris (Roberts) and Elena (Sobol), thank you for your hard work in organizing this fifth IBA Congress. I truly believe in the IBA’s vision, which is not short-term but long-term — focused on helping young and less fortunate athletes around the world,” said Pacquiao who was recently incorporated as IBA’s Vice President.

“I deeply admire the IBA’s mission to support young athletes who dream big, not just in one or two countries, but globally. This vision is not only about promoting health and sports but also about building meaningful relationships with each individual. The stronger our connections, the brighter the future we can create. This is exactly what Umar and the IBA are achieving today.

“I also want to acknowledge the Board of Directors, IBA officers, and especially Omar, for your dedication to supporting young athletes. 

“Personally, I can say that my life experience has been extraordinary and, at times, very challenging. I grew up selling donuts, flowers, and other small items, often sleeping on the streets. Some days I had food, some days I only drank water to survive,” “PacMan” said in an emotional address to the delegates at the Congress at Jumeirah Beach Hotel’s Safinah Ballroom.

“Looking back, I cannot imagine how far I have come. What I have achieved in life is the result of dreaming big and having faith in God. Without that, I would be nothing. I am truly grateful for the IBA’s vision, which focuses on helping young athletes and building relationships that shape their futures.

Argentina joins IBA, India, Pakistan suspended

“Thank you for welcoming me to this Congress. I look forward to seeing everyone again at future IBA events. And thank you Umar, for making us proud to be part of the IBA family,” added Pacquiao, also a retired politician who raked in $775 million (Sh99.7 billion) in his stellar career, $130 million (Sh16.7 billion) of which came from a 2015 “Fight of the Century” fight with American legend Floyd Mayweather Junior.

The Congress also welcomed Argentina’s boxing federation as its new member in a unanimous vote but equally unanimously rejected an application by the Dutch Boxing Federation by over 90 percent with 92 delegates voting against and 10 for with 10 abstentions.

India, Pakistan and St Vincent and The Grenadines boxing federations’ memberships were also terminated by the Congress over several non-compliance issues.

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Gallery: Courtesy

Saturday’s finals pairings at the IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships in Dubai:

Minimumweight: Edmond Khudoian (Russia) vs Subhan Mamedov (Azerbaijan);

Flyweight: Hasanboy Dusmatov (Uzbekistan) vs Bair Batlaev (Russia);

Bantamweight: Viacheslav Rogozin (Russia) vs Saken Bibossinov (Kazakhstan);

Featherweight: Orazbek Assylkulov (Kazakhstan) vs Khustravkhon Rakhimov (Tajikistan);

Lightweight: Abdumalik Khalokov (Uzbekistan) vs Vsevolod Shumkov (Russia);

Light welterweight: Omar Livaza (Kyrgyzstan) vs Ilia Popov (Russia);

Welterweight: Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev (Uzbekistan) vs Evgenii Kool (Russia);

Light middleweight: Sergei Kildenkov (Russia) vs Ablaikhan Zhussupov (Kazakhstan);

Middleweight: Sabirzhan Akkalykov (Kazakhstan) vs Ismael Musolgov (Russia);

Light heavyweight: Javokhir Ummataliev (Uzbekistan) vs Dzhambulat Bizhamov;

Cruiserweight: Sharabutdin Ataev (Russia) vs Aliaksei Alfiorau (Belarus);

Heavyweight: Turabek Khabibullaev (Uzbekistan) vs Muslim Gadzhimagomedov (Russia);

Super heavyweight: Aman Makhanov (Uzbekistan) vs David Surov (Russia).

elias.makori@ymail.com