Organisers of the Global Boxing Forum slated for Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on December 9, have described it as an athlete-centred event that will lay the foundation on how to support and shape the sport in the years ahead.
An impressive line-up of esteemed boxers and industry experts have been confirmed as part of the programme for the forum in Dubai, where the 2023 IBA Ordinary Congress will hold.
With 2024 around the corner, the International Boxing Association (IBA) said it is looking to the future, discussing how to best support boxers, tying in with this year’s overarching theme of “Protecting the Physical, Mental and Financial Health of our Athletes.”
Focused on unity, there will be opportunity for discussion among attendees on how to best support and shape the sport in the years ahead.
A senior representative from the UAE Boxing Federation will welcome attendees before passing over to IBA president, Umar Kremlev, for his address.
According to the programme of events, Secretary General and CEO of the IBA, Chris Roberts, will be on the first panel of the day: “Financial Support Programme as a tool to excel” with Dutch-born boxer and IBA Champions’ Night winner, Megan de Cler.
Following this, Chris Roberts will deliver an overview on “The Future Look of IBA Competitions as Champions’ Night Gains Momentum”, with the eighth edition of Champions’ Night holding after the Forum.
In the main event, Olympic champion, Albert Batyrgaziev from Russia and Cuban three-time world champion, Lazaro Alvarez are to fight over 10 rounds in the 60kg weight category, for the first IBA professional title. Four IBA professional bouts are scheduled, as well as three professional fights.
IBA Board of Directors members, Marta Forcen Celaya, Kristy Harris, and Zsuzsanna Toth will be joined by CEO of the Optimisation Hub, Dr. Graziella Thake, to discuss “Mental and Physical Health, Athletes’ Well-being”.
IBA world champion and Olympic gold medallist, Estelle Mossely, will be joined by Azhar Muhammad-Saul, Chief Operating Officer and Partner, Paradigm Sports, to speak about the panel topic “Building your Brand as an Athlete and Life After Sport”.
The Global Boxing Forum will also provide the backdrop for a panel session on the introduction of IBA’s New Generation Scoring System, which will be chaired by Secretary General and CEO of the IBA, Chris Roberts, where he is joined by panelists from the Japan Boxing Federation, LiveMedia Corporation, and Unixon Systems.
The final panel session of the day will be on “Diversity and Inclusion within Boxing – Where we are and where we need to be!”, featuring IBA Board of Directors member and Chair of the IBA Diversity Committee, Pearl Dlamini; and fellow Board members, Dian Gomes and Kristy Harris.
Following President Kremlev’s closing remarks at the Global Boxing Forum is the inaugural Global and Continental Journalists Awards presented by the president. The Forum will conclude with Q&A session between the IBA president and journalists.
