Boxing has become famous beyond the ring for its spectacular stagings that turn a fight into theatre. This Monday, at the Sport + Business Forum organized in Istanbul by the International Boxing Association –IBA-, it sought to stage its own show, surprising the world in an attempt to regain control of world boxing. IBA President Umar Kremlev appeared alongside Donald Trump Jr, Manny Pacquiao and Rasheda Ali Walsh, daughter of Muhammad Ali. The message they wanted to send was to put sport ahead of politics, with transparency and a path for young people. But did it get through?
The image aimed to clean up and improve the name of the IBA as a renewed organization, one that not only organizes competitions, but also seeks to reclaim the values of boxing in events such as the Olympic Games —a competition from which it was sidelined by the IOC and which is now run by World Boxing.
Why the IOC turned its back on the IBA
To put things into context, let’s recall why the IBA lost the responsibility of organizing Olympic boxing tournaments and why the IOC decided to sever ties:
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Questionable governance with no deep reforms in internal management.
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Lack of transparency in refereeing, with suspicious decisions that undermined the sport’s credibility.
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Almost total financial dependence on Gazprom, the Russian state-owned energy company, raising doubts about the body’s independence.
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Opaque electoral processes, with Kremlev’s re-election unopposed and accusations of manipulation.
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Little willingness to implement the reforms demanded by the IOC.
Faced with this panorama, the IOC concluded that the IBA could not guarantee clean, impartial and sustainable boxing. That is why there was a need for a new international federation that could restore confidence in the Olympic movement, and in 2023 World Boxing was born, based in Switzerland. The IOC even warned that boxing could be excluded from Los Angeles 2028. In the end, World Boxing secured enough backing to dispel that threat. It was, practically, the last major decision taken by outgoing IOC President Thomas Bach.
What does the IBA want with this Istanbul photo?
From that point on, the question has been what role the IBA can play without Olympic recognition. And with Monday’s staging, even more questions have emerged: is this an offensive to regain international legitimacy, or a move to strengthen its influence in strategic regions, outside the IOC’s orbit?
At the Istanbul forum, Trump Jr joined Kremlev’s speech, defending that “the purity of sport and fairness for young people” had to be restored. Rasheda Ali Walsh evoked her father’s legacy, recalling that “greatness is not measured only by titles, but by the impact on humanity.” And Manny Pacquiao highlighted grassroots boxing, announcing his ‘League of Destiny’ project together with the IBA.
That “purity” and “fairness” Trump Jr spoke about were precisely some of the arguments used by the IOC to part ways with the IBA, due to their absence. Are they now trying to rebuild an IBA based on Olympic values, or will it remain just a showpiece while continuing with the same philosophy? The message was one of unity, values and business walking together. But the question is whether they have enough credibility for the international boxing community to trust them again.
The shadow of Russia and Worlds in Dubai
Because behind the IBA lies the same issue that has never gone away: the federation has survived thanks to financial backing from Russia, with Gazprom as its main support, and with Umar Kremlev as a president close to Moscow. That connection was another of the IOC’s main arguments for cutting ties with the body. Which is why Trump Jr’s presence adds intrigue and visibility.
For now, the IBA has announced that the next Men’s World Championships will take place in Dubai, with Trump Jr as host. The intention is to show the world that they are a federation with muscle, capable of attracting media figures and opening markets. But how can a federation excluded from the Olympic Games redefine its role in the sport?
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