IBA Boxing Game Delivers Groundbreaking

AR Experience At “Night Of Champions”!

(July 29th) The International Boxing Association (IBA), together with VK Tech, hosted a major corporate event, the “Night of Champions”. The boxing-themed show in Nizhny Novgorod marked a new chapter in the development of boxing within the IT community.

The project brought together sport, technology and a modern entertainment format, creating a unique platform for IT professionals where boxing becomes part of corporate culture and new digital communications.

A highlight of the evening was the work of the IBA Boxing Game Special Projects Department, which presented the world’s first IT AR show. More than 1,000 guests and residents of the city watched a battle of digital giants through augmented reality technology, transforming the urban space into a large-scale interactive arena. The AR performance became one of the most talked-about moments of the event and demonstrated a new level of integration between sport and technology.

Pavel Ilminov, Producer of IBA Boxing game: “We were the first in the world to create an IT AR show on this scale. We were inspired by Gorillaz’s show in Times Square, and realised that the combination of boxing and digital technology could create an entirely new synergy of emotion, sport and visual art. I would also like to thank Mr Umar Kremlev, President of IBA, for believing in digital boxing and making a big step towards making it a reality.”

Guests also showed particular interest in the IBA Game championship belt. In addition, the signature rhythm game, which has become a recognisable feature of IBA Boxing Game projects, proved highly popular among attendees. Organisers also prepared special gifts for the most active participants. Guests who achieved the best results on the punch machine received exclusive boxing gloves from the World Boxing Championships in Dubai.

During the closed-door part of the “Night of Champions”, representatives of leading Russian technology and corporate companies stepped into the ring. The event also featured professional boxing contests. Guests witnessed five spectacular bouts, each distinguished by a high level of preparation, intensity and unpredictable outcomes.

The “Night of Champions” became an example of how modern technology companies are shaping a new corporate culture by combining sport, entertainment and digital innovation into a unified communication platform.

Nurghali Gets Second Shot At Japparbergenov’s Bantamweight Title At International Boxing Day In Astana!

(July 28th) Aidos “Alim” Japparbergenov defends his bantamweight title against unbeaten challenger Almaz Nurghali on 28 August in the main championship bout at International Boxing Day in Astana organised by International Boxing Association (IBA) and NOMAD Promotion.

Their first encounter in May 2025 ended in a highly controversial draw, with Japparbergenov retaining his championship. The outcome sparked widespread debate among fans and left the division without a definitive answer as to who was the superior boxer.

Since then, both men have strengthened their claims to the top of the bantamweight division.

Japparbergenov successfully defended his IBA NOMAD title against Asror Akparkhodjaev at IBA NOMAD 14, proving he remains the benchmark of the weight class.

Nurghali, meanwhile, has continued his unbeaten run and delivered the biggest victory of his career at IBA NOMAD 15, defeating Torgynbek Amirov, who entered the contest as the world’s No. 1 fighter in the division according to BoxRec rankings and the reigning RCC Hard champion.

With both fighters now holding landmark victories, the long-awaited rematch will determine the undisputed king of the IBA NOMAD bantamweight division.

The event promises another chapter in one of the league’s most compelling rivalries, with championship gold and divisional supremacy on the line.

World Champion Sanzhar Tashkenbay To Headline International Boxing Day In Astana

July 26th, 2026 / International Boxing Day!

(July 27th) World champion Sanzhar Tashkenbay (59-0-12, 3KOs) is set to make one of the biggest appearances of his professional career when he headlines the International Boxing Day in Astana on August 28, 2026. Organized by the International Boxing Association (IBA) and NOMAD Fighting, the event will bring together elite fighters, rising stars and boxing fans from across the region for a spectacular celebration of the sport.

Fresh off establishing himself among the sport’s elite, Tashkenbay will step into the ring before a home crowd in what promises to be one of the standout moments of the International Boxing Day festivities. His appearance leads a star-studded fight card featuring many of Kazakhstan’s top boxing names and rising professional talents.

The two-day celebration begins on August 27 with an interactive Boxing Festival, giving fans exclusive access to the athletes during fight week. Visitors will have the opportunity to attend the official weigh-in, witness the traditional face-offs, participate in the press conference, watch the fighters’ open workouts, and enjoy fan zones and entertainment activities throughout the venue.

The main event takes place on August 28, featuring 10 exciting contests that showcase both traditional professional boxing and the sport’s newest competitive format. Alongside Sanzhar Tashkenbay, fans will also see two-time world boxing champion Saken Bibossinov (2-0, 1 KOs), who won gold medals in Belgrade and Dubai and the first and ex-champion of AMC Fight Nights Global Zhalgas Zhumagulov (1-0).

Additional internationally recognized fighters will be announced in the coming weeks, further enhancing what is already shaping up to be one of the strongest professional boxing cards held in Kazakhstan.

Anton Kadushin: Negotiations For Murat Gassiev’s Next Opponent Will Not Begin Before September!

(July 23rd) Anton Kadushin, coach of WBA heavyweight world champion Murat Gassiev, has stated that no negotiations regarding the boxer’s next bout are currently underway.

“At the moment, there are no negotiations concerning Murat’s next opponent. Murat is taking time to rest and recover after a bout for which he spent four months in training camps. The team will not return to discussions about his future plans before September. It is important for Murat to have the opportunity to fully recover without thinking about the next challenge. In September, we will begin seriously considering the available options, including both a title defence and potential unification bouts,” Kadushin said.

IBA Pro Announces Departure Of Director Al Siesta!

(July 21st) IBA Pro announces that Al Siesta has concluded his tenure as Director and no longer holds a position within the organisation, effective immediately.

IBA Pro thanks Mr Siesta for his contribution during his tenure and wishes him every success in his future endeavours.

The organisation remains fully operational and continues its focus on the development and growth of its professional boxing programme.

IBA President Umar Kremlev: IOC Had No Choice But To Accept Lifting The Restrictions On Russian Athletes!

(July 7th) The International Boxing Association (IBA) supports the decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to provisionally lift the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee and declare its neutrality restrictions no longer applicable.

This decision marks the exact outcome the IBA consistently predicted. When the IBA became the first international federation not to impose the ban of Russian and Belarusian athletes—fully following their right to compete under their national flags and anthems, the global sporting community watched with skepticism.

Yet, the IBA stated clearly from the beginning that the rest of the sporting world, including the IOC, would eventually have no choice but to follow boxing’s lead. Today’s announcement proves that prediction entirely correct.

IBA President Umar Kremlev issued a definitive statement on the IOC’s decision: “The IOC had no choice but to lift the restrictions and admit its mistakes. The new leadership is successfully replacing the previous managers and getting rid of old and erroneous decisions. International associations must protect athletes, and athletes should stand on the podium, not politics.

Russian athletes must fully return to the world stage: under their flag, under their anthem, for their country. For an athlete, the flag and anthem are their heart and soul. Russia was and remains a great sporting power. Our athletes must return with dignity—with the right to defend the honour of their country. The IBA expects that the IOC will finally completely get rid of its past mistakes.”

The IBA expresses its expectation that the IOC will continue on its path of reviewing past decisions and definitively rectify its previous mistakes.

The IBA also believes that no athlete should be discriminated against on the basis of their nationality, the country they represent, or their faith and calls on international sports federations to support this approach and ensure that Russian athletes are given the opportunity to compete in world competitions under their national symbols.

IBA Bare Knuckle Unveils Star-Studded Fight Card

Ahead Of Its First Event In The USA!

(July 2nd) On July 18, 2026, the James L. Knight Center, a multifunctional convention hall in Miami, Florida, will host an IBA Bare Knuckle tournament, the International Professional Bare Knuckle League established under the auspices of the International Boxing Association (IBA) at the direction of the organization’s president, Umar Kremlev.

The event will be hosted by Jon Jones, widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers in UFC history, who will help deliver an unforgettable evening of world-class bare-knuckle action for fans.

One of the tournament’s main attractions will be a bare-knuckle showdown between Viacheslav Borshchev, a former UFC boxer from Russia and an International Master of Sports in kickboxing, and Elvin Brito, Puerto Rico’s professional boxer and the inaugural BKFC champion, widely known by his nickname “El Bandido.”

The event will also feature a bout between Javier Fortuna, a Dominican professional boxer, former WBA Regular Super Featherweight World Champion (2015–2016) and former WBA Interim Featherweight World Champion (2012–2013), and Colombian professional boxer Alejandro Munera. Known in the ring as “El Abejon” (“The Bumblebee”) for his exceptional speed, aggressive boxing style, and southpaw stance, Fortuna is expected to deliver another electrifying performance.

Fans will also witness a bare-knuckle clash between Russian MMA star Alan Salamov, the undefeated champion of the Nashe Delo league and HFC MMA, and American professional mixed martial artist and bare-knuckle boxer Markus Suarez, also known by his nickname “Murk.”

Another highly anticipated matchup will see promising undefeated Ossetian welterweight (77 kg) MMA boxer David Mistulov take on American professional mixed martial artist Nathan LaRocco in a hard-fought contest.

Throughout the evening, spectators will witness ten intense and action-packed bouts, showcasing elite bare-knuckle competition and world-class combat sports talent.

Full fight card:

Viacheslav Borshchev (Russia) vs Elvin Brito (Puerto Rico)

5 rounds × 2 minutes

Weight: 75 kg

Javier Fortuna (Dominican Republic) vs Alejandro Munera (Colombia)

5 rounds × 2 minutes

Weight: 70 kg

George Sosa (USA) vs Coty Cook (USA)

5 rounds × 2 minutes

Weight: 72 kg

Kendrick Miree (USA) vs Alex Cook (USA)

5 rounds × 2 minutes

Weight: 93 + kg

Ivanieldo Mettendaf (USA) vs Louis Brewington (USA)

5 rounds × 2 minutes

Weight: 88 kg

Sean Hotusing (USA) vs Dustin Bailey (USA)

5 rounds × 2 minutes

Weight: 84 kg

Markus Suarez (USA) vs Alan Salamov (Russia)

3 rounds × 2 minutes

Weight: 84 kg

Freddy Saavedra (USA) vs Diego Romo (Ecuador)

5 rounds × 2 minutes

Weight: 84 kg

Lazaro Lara (USA) vs Micah Mitchell (USA)

3 rounds × 2 minutes

Weight: 57 kg

Nathan LaRocco (USA) vs David Mistulov (Russia)

3 rounds × 3 minutes

Weight: 77 kg

The International Boxing Association (IBA) is a worldwide boxing governing body that sanctions professional fights and crowns champions across the sport’s divisions. Since its relaunch in 2017, the organization has sought to strengthen boxing’s global profile through major events, title opportunities, and ongoing support for elite fighters.

Boxers Did It First: IBA President Welcomes

IOC’s Decision On Allocating Funds Among Athletes!

(June 24th) IBA President Umar Kremlev has welcomed the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to establish a $100 million athlete support fund, declaring it a long-overdue sign that the IOC has finally listened and commenced necessary reforms.

The financial commitment, announced during an IOC meeting led by President Kirsty Coventry, will see $10,000 grants made available to athletes at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games and the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Games. The decision to distribute approximately $110 million among Olympic competitors comes as a direct response to growing global calls for the financial support and recognition of athletes.

Highlighting that the IBA was the pioneer in introducing prize money for Olympic Games, President Umar Kremlev characterised the move as a significant shift, whilst challenging the governing body to scale its future athlete-centred support to $1 billion to truly match real actions by the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

“Finally, the IOC has listened and started reforms. Of course, more than 100 million dollars is already a significant shift, but we hope that in the future, a billion dollars will be allocated to support athletes.

The IBA was the first to start paying prize money for the Olympic Games. Then, track and field followed this example, and we thank World Athletics leadership for such an important decision.

We hope that by the 2028 Olympics, these will no longer be just words, but real actions. The IOC President, Kirsty Coventry, is on the right track. Prize money for athletes is an indicator that the athletes are truly being heard. That we are being heard.

I am proud and sincerely glad that it was the boxing family that took this step first. The boxers did it. The IBA did it.”

For the IBA leadership, this decision marks a definitive shift in the global sports landscape, proving that international governing bodies can no longer ignore the necessity of direct financial rewards for the central stakeholders of the Games.

The IBA was the first international association to introduce prize money for its athletes at Paris 2024. As the global sporting community moves toward the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle, the IBA remains dedicated to acting as a financial shield for its boxers during the LA Games, ensuring that sport administration serves the people who create the spectacle, carry the pressure, and generate the audience: the athletes themselves, creating real-life opportunities for them.