Dubai Unveils Historic Boxing Festival: The 2025 IBA World Elite Championships Kickoff

Event at a Glance

Dubai will host the 23rd edition of the IBA World Boxing Championships for Elite Men, a flagship event known as Dubai 2025, under the watchful eye of the International Boxing Association. The championship carries an unprecedented prize fund of eight million dollars, underscoring a new era for boxing's most elite talents.

Schedule, Prizes and Voices

The opening ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday night at the Dubai Duty Free Stadium in the Al Quoz district of Dubai, aligning with the United Arab Emirates' 54th National Day celebrations. Before the bouts begin, a technical meeting will bring together boxers and federations, followed by the official draw for 13 weight categories. The action runs from December 3 to 11, with finals on December 13, when the IBA Congress will also convene in Dubai.

According to the event program, the tournament will showcase the world's best amateur boxers, as athletes compete across 13 weight classes for a share of the eight‑million-dollar prize pool and a finale that promises high drama.

The prize distribution reinforces boxing’s evolving landscape: $300,000 goes to the winner of each category, $150,000 to the runner-up, $75,000 to third place, and $10,000 to fifth. Half of the prize fund goes to the boxer, with 25% allocated to coaches and 25% to the national federation.

Omar Kremlev, president of the IBA, emphasizes that the championships are about more than records and money. He highlights the aim to honor every boxer, coach, and federation, and to position Dubai as boxing’s global capital in December, offering athletes worldwide a fair chance to transform their lives. The IBA’s mission is to protect fighters, create opportunities, and keep boxing as a force for unity and merit on the world stage.

Chris Roberts, the IBA secretary-general and CEO, adds that this event will be more than a competition; it will be a celebration of boxing in all its forms, showcasing skill, culture and inclusion. The federation invites fans, media, and enthusiasts to join this historic gathering and witness a festival whose echoes could last for generations.

Heritage, Unity and the Road Ahead

With a heritage spanning more than 75 years, the IBA continues to nurture emerging stars and safeguard the sport’s core values. The 2025 World Elite Championships aim to lift boxing to new heights and unite the world’s best competitors in a display of talent, culture, and solidarity.

As Roberts notes, the event transcends numbers and medals; it represents respect for every athlete, coach and federation and the belief that boxing can be a force for fairness and opportunity. Dubai’s hosting signals a renewed commitment to the global boxing community and to a future where great boxing lives in harmony with shared values.

And for a light closer: 1) If boxing had a dating profile, the tagline would be “I throw punches, you bring the heart.” 2) The only thing heavier than the gloves here is the anticipation—and maybe the popcorn at ringside.