Women boxers to battle it out for big prize money in Serbia

Get ready for some ferocious display of girl power as the 2025 International Boxing Association Women's World Boxing Championships is just around the corner.

This year's championships, an annual celebration of the world's finest female talents in amateur boxing, will take place from March 8-16 in Nis, Serbia, where, for the first time in tournament history, each quarterfinalist will be awarded a prize money of $10,000. Gold medalists will each receive $100,000 as bonus, while each silver medalist will win $50,000 and bronze winner $25,000.

IBA secretary-general and CEO Chris Roberts attended an event at Nis City Hall to launch the championships along with a group of VIPs, including Serbian Boxing Federation president Nenad Borovcanin and 2022 IBA world champion Amy Broadhurst of Ireland.

In his opening remarks, Roberts thanked the organizers and hailed the championships as a huge boost to the development of female boxing around the world.

"IBA, we are the home of boxing, and we will be bringing our female boxers to Nis to perform at the highest level," said Roberts. "The world championships is the No 1 global competition in the world. We've been working hard along with Serbian Boxing Federation to make this event truly memorable, and I am confident that we will roll out a fantastic championships with opportunity for prize money and it's important to create those conditions for our women to compete."

"Opportunities that IBA creates are unprecedented, and I am looking forward to see other ascending stars of the women's boxing crowned in Serbia," he added.

Registration for the championships closes on Feb 20. Almost 40 nations and regions, including China, have registered so far with an expected total of over 500 boxers to compete in Nis.

Reigning Olympic champion Imane Khelif of Algeria, who won gold medal in women's 66kg at Paris 2024, will not be among those flying over to Serbia, though.

The IBA reaffirmed its stance against allowing Khelif to compete at its championships, citing the fact that the 25-year-old failed a gender eligibility test conducted by the organization back in 2023, which had already disqualified the boxer from the worlds of that year.

Roberts insisted that the organization's gender eligibility tests will continue throughout this year's championships.

"Imane Khelif is not eligible for our world championships ... she doesn't meet the eligibility criteria," Roberts said at the media conference in Nis on Tuesday.

"Our technical rules clearly stipulate the requirements and eligibility criteria for the event.

"We randomly (conduct gender eligibility tests) and will be testing through the World Championships here."

Ognjen Cvjeticanin, state secretary of the Ministry of Sport of Serbia, welcomes the world's best to Serbia.

"Serbia continues with the organization of major sports events, and now Serbian Boxing Federation was entrusted to organize another IBA World Boxing Championships, this time for women. We are ready to welcome the best boxers from around the globe."

Broadhurst, who won a gold medal at the 2022 worlds and is expecting a baby, shared her story, hailing the IBA's policy of awarding elite performers with prize money as a life-changer for her fellow boxers.

"The IBA World Championships not only hold a special place in my heart but it's an amazing opportunity for every talented athlete around the world to come together and compete against each other," said Broadhurst, who won the light welterweight gold at the 2022 edition in Istanbul.

"IBA has created an amazing opportunity with these championships by awarding prize money. In many ways IBA have changed the lives of many athletes including mine.

"If it wasn't for the opportunities that IBA provide for us athletes, many of us would still live lives that are difficult to navigate through while still training full time," she said.

Headguards will be mandatory for all competitors at the championships, as the IBA adjusted the restriction to make sure all nations can compete. A special Headguards Forum is scheduled to take part during the championships to clarify the rationale behind the headguards removal for women and receive feedback from the coaches around the world.