The International Boxing Association (IBA), formerly known as the Association Internationale de Boxe Amateur (AIBA), is the global governing body for amateur and professional boxing.
The International Boxing Association (IBA) oversees several disciplines within the sport of boxing. Each discipline has its own format and rules, designed to promote fair competition across various levels of the sport. Below is an overview of the main disciplines:
Ring
Ocean
Whitewater / Wildwater
Ring and Ocean
The International Boxing Association (IBA) has a structured membership system that includes national boxing federations from around the world. Below is an overview of how the membership is organised and the benefits of being a member:
Key Aspects of IBA Membership:
Each confederation helps coordinate regional boxing activities and represents its member nations in IBA meetings and decisions.
Membership Benefits:
Membership Requirements:
To become a member of the IBA, a national federation must meet the following criteria:
IBA Congress:
The IBA Congress is the main decision-making body, held every two years. All member federations participate in the Congress to vote on important decisions, including governance changes and the election of IBA officials. The Congress ensures that the organisation functions democratically and represents the interests of all member nations.
The International Boxing Association (IBA), formerly known as the Fédération Internationale de Boxe Amateur (AIBA), governs global amateur and professional boxing. Established in 1946, it is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland. IBA oversees 198 national boxing federations worldwide and is organised into five continental confederations: the African Boxing Confederation, the American Boxing Confederation, the Asian Boxing Confederation, the European Boxing Confederation, and the Oceania Boxing Confederation. The organisation's main decision-making body is the Congress, with Umar Kremlev serving as President since 2020.
IBA was historically responsible for managing Olympic boxing until the International Olympic Committee (IOC) suspended it in 2019 due to governance and financial issues. The IOC subsequently revoked its recognition of IBA in 2023, marking the first time a federation was expelled from the Olympic movement. Despite this, IBA continues to hold world championships and other competitions.
IBA oversees various boxing competitions, including the IBA World Boxing Championships and youth and junior world championships. It also previously managed the World Series of Boxing and AIBA Pro Boxing, both of which have ceased operations due to financial difficulties.
IBA has implemented several reforms, including increasing the number of weight categories and introducing prize money for world championship winners. The organisation also adopted a new constitution, created additional committees, and reinforced its anti-doping efforts.
The IBA’s membership structure includes national boxing federations that promote and develop boxing in their respective countries. Each federation has the right to participate in IBA-sanctioned events and vote in the IBA Congress, where governance decisions are made. The IBA continues to play an important role in global boxing despite losing its Olympic status.
