IBA President Umar Kremlev: Boxing is a Friendly Family that Will Continue to Grow Regardless of Political Strife

Umar Kremlev, the president of the International Boxing Association (IBA), recently spoke at a press conference in Tashkent, Uzbekistan about the future of boxing. During the conference, Kremlev emphasized the importance of cooperation and compromise in the sport of boxing and highlighted the IBA’s commitment to helping athletes and National Federations develop the sport.

According to the EU Reporter, Kremlev stressed that politics should be kept out of boxing and that cooperation and compromise are essential for the sport’s development. He noted that boxing is a friendly family that will continue to grow regardless of political strife. Kremlev spoke about the issue of interaction between the IBA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), emphasizing that each organization should focus on its own responsibilities without interfering with each other and athletes’ interests.

The well-being of boxers is a key to the success of the sport, according to Kremlev. He said that each athlete should be able to represent their country and have equal rights. Secondly, they have to be able to provide for their families and earn money from boxing. Kremlev stated that the IBA should invest in boxing and not make money on it, and that the IBA needs to keep proving with their actions that boxing is not only a sport to practice for good health and shape, but also an upward mobility for many and may well be a career path.

Regarding the US and UK initiative to create an “alternative boxing association,” Kremlev stated that the IBA is the only international association that governs boxing and is trusted by 205 countries. He questioned the idea of registering an association in a “garage” and calling it international and asked why anyone should pay attention to it. The IBA is open to dialogue, and a commission has been created to interact with the IOC.

The press conference also addressed the US Boxing Federation’s previous decision to withdraw from the IBA, with Kremlev noting that American athletes themselves are requesting help in organizing a new federation, and the decision to withdraw was an exclusively bureaucratic initiative that does not reflect the views of the athletes. Kremlev also addressed the creation of a rogue international boxing body, stating that there have always been attempts to shatter the integrity of the IBA, both from inside and outside. He recommended that everyone concentrate on their goals and keep going forward for the sake of athletes, coaches, National Federations, and the sport itself.

The IBA plans to allocate between $50,000 and $100,000 to each National Federation for the development of boxing after submitting a development plan. This funding will help the sport grow and develop worldwide, which is a key goal for Kremlev and the IBA.

In conclusion, Umar Kremlev, the president of the International Boxing Association (IBA), believes that cooperation and compromise are essential for the development of boxing, and politics should be kept out of the sport. The IBA is committed to helping athletes and National Federations develop the sport and will allocate funding for the same. The IBA is the only international association that governs boxing and is trusted by 205 countries. The creation of a rogue international boxing body and the US Boxing Federation’s previous decision to withdraw from the IBA were also discussed during the press conference, with Kremlev noting that they do not reflect the views of the athletes. The IBA will continue to work towards the betterment of the sport of boxing and maintain its integrity.