PuraVida Sports

History in the Ring: Rematches, Stoppages, and Championship Glory Ignite IBA NOMAD’s First-Ever Uzbekistan Showcase!

The historic debut of IBA NOMAD 16 in Uzbekistan turned Tashkent’s Humo Arena into an absolute theatre of combat on October 17, delivering a high-stakes blend of devastating stoppages and tactical masterpieces. Main-card headliner Murad Khalidov of Russia successfully defended his heavyweight crown, stopping Kazakh rival Bekzhan Bakirov in a punishing rematch. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan's Ernar Khusainov secured the vacant featherweight title following a thrilling five-round war against Valeriy Osobov. Adding to the electric atmosphere, Tajikistan’s Asror Akparhodjaev outpointed former UFC veteran Zhalgas Zhumagulov, capping an unforgettable milestone night for Central Asian boxing...

IBA Launches Flagship "IBA Fit" Center in Tashkent to Expand Global Boxing and Community Fitness Access

The International Boxing Association (IBA) has officially opened its inaugural IBA Fit boxing and fitness centre in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Attended by IBA President Umar Kremlev and legendary regional champions, Saturday's grand opening ceremony unveiled a state-of-the-art, 400-square-metre facility designed to democratize the sport. The new venue offers tailored training programmes for all skill levels, ranging from complete beginners to elite national team athletes. Emphasizing social responsibility, the centre ensures inclusivity by providing heavily subsidised access for large families, low-income households, and orphans...

Kenya To Send Full Squad For IBA President’s Cup 2026 In Istanbul As Registration Opens

Kenya to field a full 12-man "Hit Squad" team for the high-stakes $3 million IBA President’s Cup in Istanbul this November. As registration opens, BFK Secretary General David Munuhe confirmed the selection process will heavily weigh performances at Nairobi's upcoming Africa Championships. The year-end event offers individual winners a massive $100,000 purse and marks the debut of the IBA’s new Elite competition pathway. However, scheduling conflicts mean Kenya will skip the IBA African tournament in Kinshasa, prompting BFK leadership to echo calls from IBA President Umar Kremlev for a urgent, harmonized global boxing calendar with rival body World Boxing....

IBA Unveils New Unified System to Protect Fighters as Derek Chisora Plots Ring Return Against Gassiev

IBA is reshaping boxing by putting athlete welfare first through its new "IBA Management" platform. Unveiled by CEO Chris Roberts OBE in Istanbul, this initiative unites IBA Elite and IBA.PRO into a single ranking system launching at December's President's Cup, driving fighter progression through prize money and global support. Simultaneously, British heavyweight Derek Chisora praised the IBA’s unmatched global inclusivity and announced his upcoming December bout against WBA regular champion Murat Gassiev. With a modernized, youth-focused visual identity for IBA Elite and robust financial backing for underprivileged boxers, the IBA is officially rewriting the sport's global narrative....

Gassiev Blasts Fury-Joshua Rumors: 'I Defend My Title in the Ring, Not in a Press Release!'

The promotional and legal team for WBA "Regular" heavyweight champion Murat Gassiev has fiercely condemned reports that the upcoming December 11 showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will contest the vacant WBA "Super" world title. Branding the rumored decision as an unprecedented betrayal of sporting merit, Gassiev’s camp has lodged a formal objection with the sanctioning body. They maintain that the reigning champion was completely bypassed without consultation, demanding an immediate public refutation and the rightful opportunity to defend his status in the ring....

IBA President's Cup 2026 to Launch IBA Elite in Istanbul with $3 Million Prize Fund

The International Boxing Association (IBA) is set to open a new chapter in international boxing with the launch of IBA Elite, a new global competition platform built around sporting performance, continuous international competition and a clear pathway towards the biggest stages in IBA boxing....

IBA President Umar Kremlev Outlines Bold Global Vision for International Boxing Day

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IBA Knocks Out Apparel Giants With Heavyweight Champ Murat Gassiev signing

In a fierce disruption of the combat sports market, the IBA clothing brand has signed WBA Heavyweight Champion Murat Gassiev as its global brand ambassador, freezing legacy rivals out of the champion's corner. Securing exclusive rights to equip Gassiev and his team with high-tech performance gear, IBA is leveraging the champion's knockout reputation to aggressively capture market share. To maximize impact, the brand is weaponizing a high-octane product launch strategy featuring a limited-edition capsule collection. This premium drop targets both boxing purists and the lucrative sport-chic streetwear market, proving IBA is ready to dominate inside and outside the ring....

'Rolly' Romero has a message for boxing: Stop paying fighters so much

Rolando "Rolly" Romero (above) returns to the ring in Las Vegas this Saturday to defend his WBA welterweight title against Teofimo Lopez at T-Mobile Arena.Making his first appearance in 15 months since his upset victory over Ryan Garcia, the 30-year-old two-division champion enters the bout with heavy criticisms regarding the current state of boxing. Romero slammed the trend of overpaying fighters for less-than-stellar matchups, pointing to massive "cash grabs" by other superstars as a primary reason the sport is suffering. He credits Lopez for stepping up to the challenge, promising fans a legitimate, high-stakes battle....

‘Best Fight on the Card’: Mironchikov Promises Unforgettable IBA.PRO 20 Showdown

Unbeaten Serbian contender Vladimir Mironchikov predicts an unforgettable night of high-calibre action at IBA.PRO 20 on 14 August in Naberezhnye Chelny. The landmark event features world champions and global stars, headlined by a blockbuster 10-round clash between reigning world champion Djambulat Bizhamov (RUS) and the undefeated Mironchikov for the vacant IBF European super-middleweight title. Additionally, local fans will rally behind hometown hero and BRICS Games gold medallist Sergeev Sergey, who steps into the ring for the first time in front of his home crowd to face Tajikistan’s Nekruz Salimov for the prestigious Mayor’s Cup....

IBA and NOMAD Unveil 8-Bout Card for International Boxing Day Celebrations

The International Boxing Association (IBA) and NOMAD have finalized an action-packed, eight-bout card for International Boxing Day in Astana, Kazakhstan, capping off a dynamic three-day festival. Headlining the August 28 event at the Zh. Ushkempirov Palace of Martial Arts, two-time IBA world champion Sanzhar Tashkenbay makes his highly anticipated professional debut against Neel Jacamos for the vacant IBF Asia flyweight title. The star-studded lineup also features an intense IBA NOMAD bantamweight championship rematch in MMA gloves between local rivals Aidos Japparbergenov and Almaz Nurgali, alongside Olympic medallist Saken Bibossinov and several undefeated global contenders....

Undefeated Grigoryan Targets Vacant IBF Youth Lightweight Title at IBA.Pro 20

Undefeated Russian prospect Mikhail Grigoryan (9-0) will hunt his tenth consecutive professional victory when he battles Ugandan challenger Henry Oteba for the vacant IBF Youth Lightweight title at IBA.PRO 20 in Naberezhnye Chelny this Friday, August 14. The 22-year-old former European youth amateur champion faces his toughest professional test yet following a dominant unanimous decision over Jeo Santisima in April. This high-octane 10-round championship bout joins a stellar international card headlined by Djambulat Bizhamov taking on Vladimir Mironchikov for the vacant IBF European Super Middleweight belt in a night of elite global boxing....