World Championships

The inaugural World Boxing Championships get underway this week with the world’s best Olympic-style boxers descending on the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England for ten days of boxing action, 4-14 September 2025.

More than 540 men and women from over 66 national federations will compete in the tournament which will the first time ever that the men and women’s version of the world championships has been held as part of the same event.

It will be the biggest ever Olympic-style boxing event held in Great Britain and features 17 medallists from Paris 2024 and more than 30 boxers that competed at that most recent Olympic Games.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has secured a historic agreement with World Boxing to stream the World Boxing Championships 2025 on Eurovision Sport, the EBU’s premier digital platform, bringing the action to audiences worldwide. To see the full list of territories this is available in, click HERE.

80 medals will be on offer, including 20 golds, when the action gets underway on Thursday, across 10 weight classes each for men and women. Full details of the weight categories and the competition schedule are available HERE.

The two gold medallist from Paris are Abdumalik Khalokov of Uzbekistan and Erislandy Alvarez of Cuba.

Khaolokov is part of a powerful Uzbek team that is hoping to build on the success that saw it finish top of the boxing medal table in Paris with five golds. Although he is the only one of those that will be boxing in Liverpool, the team also includes five of the men that topped the podium at this summer’s World Boxing Cup in Poland: Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov (55kg), Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev (65kg), Fazliddin Erkinboev (75kg), Akmaljon Isroiliv (85kg), Jakhongir Zokirov (90kg+).

From a nation that is synonymous with Olympic-style boxing, Alvarez is joined in an eight-man Cuban line-up that features one of the all-time greats in Julio César La Cruz.

Now 35 and boxing at super heavyweight, La Cruz is the most decorated boxer in the competition with two Olympic golds (from Rio and Tokyo) and five golds and one bronze from previous iterations of the world championships. The Championships in Liverpool may be a final hurrah for one of the great boxers of the modern era who is bound to be one of the star attractions.

In the women’s categories, competition looks fierce in the women’s featherweight (57kg) division which will feature Poland’s Paris silver medallist, Julia Szeremeta, and up-and-coming Brazilian, Jucielen Cerqueira Romeu.  Other Paris Olympians that will be hoping to contest the medals in this weight class include the USA’s Alyssa Mendoza and Ireland’s high-experienced two-time Olympian and three-time Commonwealth Games medallist, Michaela Walsh.

At the higher weights, the women’s middleweight (75kg) division offers up the possibility of a clash between Panama’s highly experienced Atheyna Bylon and Norwegian rising star, Sunniva Hofstad.  Bylon won silver in Paris where Hofstad made history by becoming the first Norwegian women in history to box at an Olympic Games.  She has been in terrific form in 2025 with three straight gold medals at World Boxing Cup events in Brazil, Poland and Kazakhstan.

Other Olympic medallists from 2024 that hope to be stepping onto the podium in Liverpool include Türkiye’s Buse Naz Cakiroglu (51kg) and Hatice Akbas (54kg) and Liu Yang (65kg) from China who all won silver in Paris. They are joined by bronze medallists, Nazym Kyzaibay (48kg) of Kazakhstan, South Korea’s Aeji Im (54kg) and Chin Chen (65kg) from Chinese Taipei.

The host nation, England, is fielding a full team of 20 that includes 16 boxers from the GB Boxing Olympic programme.  It includes Paris Olympian, Chantelle Reid at light middleweight (57kg) and two men light-middleweight (70kg) Odel Kamara and middleweight Callum Makin (75kg), who will be hoping to secure big support as they are competing in home city.

All five continents that participate in Olympic-style boxing are represented in Liverpool and African interest comes from Nigeria, which is sending a team of five men and five women that includes Paris Olympian, Adam Olaore.  Born in Lagos, but based in England, Olaore will be hoping to build on the success he enjoyed at the 2024 World Boxing Cup Finals in Sheffield when he made the podium with  a bronze medal at heavyweight (90kg).

The full list of national federations competing at the World Boxing Championships 2025 are: Albania, Algeria, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Czechia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, England, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Venezuela and Wales.

World Boxing President, Boris van der Vorst, said: “Coming six months after the International Olympic Committee confirmed that boxing will be part of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, this is a major milestone for World Boxing and is the first time in history that elite male and female boxers are competing for the title of world champion at the same tournament.

“As a host city, Liverpool is the perfect location. Culturally, Liverpool is famous across the globe, while from a sporting perspective, it is known in every corner of the world.

“Liverpool is also a place with a proud tradition of boxing, with many boxers from the city that have represented Great Britain at the Olympic Games or won titles in the professional ranks.”

Councillor Liam Robinson, Leader, Liverpool City Council, said: “On behalf of the city of Liverpool, it is my great pleasure to welcome athletes, officials, and fans from every corner of our planet to the 2025 World Boxing Championships.

“We will witness incredible talent, determination, and sportsmanship as the best boxers compete for world glory in the stunning setting of the M&S Bank Arena. This famous venue has regularly played host to some of the most memorable boxing nights this country has witnessed.

“Beyond the ring, we invite you to explore everything Liverpool has to offer – from our iconic waterfront and cultural landmarks to our diverse communities and world-class entertainment. This championship is more than a sporting event; it’s a celebration of unity, resilience, and the power of sport to inspire and connect us all.”

The World Boxing Championships 2025 will be livestreamed on World Boxing’s website via Eurovision Sport (available in selected territories) at https://worldboxing.org/watch-the-world-boxing-championships/

Draws, daily schedules, results and additional information can be found on the event’s official website: https://www.worldboxingliverpool.com/

World Boxing will be posting updates throughout the competition on its social media channels:

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/officialworldboxing/
X – https://x.com/RealWorldBoxing
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/OfficialWorldBoxing

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has secured a historic agreement with World Boxing to stream the World Boxing Championships 2025 on Eurovision Sport, the EBU’s premier digital platform, bringing the action to audiences worldwide.

Taking place in Liverpool from 4–14 September 2025, the event marks the first-ever boxing competition to be shown on Eurovision Sport and represents a further strategic expansion into Olympic sports for the platform.

The partnership will give boxing fans globally* access to live and on-demand coverage of the competition, meeting the growing demand for accessible, flexible sports viewing. EBU Members will also have the opportunity to cover the Championships through highlights, news features, and in some cases live broadcasts.

More than 500 boxers from over 60 countries are expected to compete across 10 weight classes for both men and women. The line-up features 17 medalists from the 2024 Olympic Games – nine women and eight men – and includes Abdumalik Khalokov of Uzbekistan and Erislandy Alvarez of Cuba, who both won gold in Paris.

Additional athletes to watch will include Poland’s Julia Szeremeta and Panama’s Atheyna Bylon, who both claimed silver at Paris 2024. 

They will be joined by one of the all-time greats of Olympic-style boxing, Julio César La Cruz of Cuba. The thirty-five-year-old super heavyweight is a four-time Olympian and the most decorated boxer in the field, with Olympic gold medals in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, along with five golds and one bronze at the World Championships.

The Championships will also make history as the first-time men and women will compete for world titles together in Olympic-style boxing at the same event.

Alan Fagan, Managing Director, Eurovision Sport, said: “Eurovision Sport is proud to deliver global coverage of the World Boxing Championships 2025, giving fans around the world a front-row seat to the action. This event will be the first boxing tournament streamed on Eurovision Sport and the first-time men and women will compete for world titles together in Olympic-style boxing, marking our commitment to gender-balanced sports coverage and broadening our Olympic sports portfolio.”

Simon Toulson, Chief Operating Officer, World Boxing said: “World Boxing is proud to partner with the EBU for the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, England. The enthusiasm, professionalism, and resources provided by Eurovision Sport will give these events significant audience reach and allow us to showcase Olympic-style boxing in a way not seen in recent times. We thank Eurovision Sport and look forward to a successful partnership.”

By combining Eurovision Sport’s growing digital footprint with World Boxing’s governing authority, the partnership sets a new standard for federations seeking to expand reach, drive fan engagement, and support grassroots participation through the visibility of elite competition.

* Territories

Asia

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

Caribbean

Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago

Europe

Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Vatican State

Latin America (LATAM)

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela

Middle East & North Africa (MENA)

Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Yemen

North America

Puerto Rico, USA

Oceania

American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis & Futuna

Sub-Saharan Africa

Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, DR Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, São Tomé & Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Liverpool is preparing to welcome the inaugural World Boxing Championships for Elite men and women this September – and a major community engagement programme is set to run alongside the sporting spectacle. 

From 4 – 14 September, the city will play host to the world’s best boxers, and Culture Liverpool is working with creative and sporting partners to ensure the event leaves a lasting legacy. The programme features three unique artistic residencies in schools and neighbourhoods, including a public exhibition celebrating the unsung heroes of the sport. 

Delivered in partnership with Open Eye Gallery and England Boxing, the Unsung Heroes exhibition will be on display at St George’s Hall – Stable Gallery shining a light on 20 grassroots figures nominated by local boxing clubs.  Photographers Emma Case and Katie Richardson, with filmmaker Susannah Fletcher, have captured portraits and stories of these “Unsung Heroes” – the people whose dedication continues to shape the boxing community.  The free exhibition runs 29 August – 20 September, open Monday-Saturday, 9am-4.30pm. 

Residencies will see artists working closely with local communities: At Rotunda ABC, artist and boxing coach Ciara Lyons is spending six weeks exploring stories of belonging, heritage and wellbeing, which will be developed into a film, performance and exhibition. Wired Aerial Theatre will work with secondary schools and take up residency at The Florrie – a venue with strong ties to Liverpool’s boxing history – delivering workshops and performances of their aerial theatre piece Me Vs Me. The production tackles themes of mental health and resilience, developed in partnership with mental health activists and education experts. Schools have also been offered the opportunity to attend boxing matches at the M&S Bank Arena during the championships. This programme has been made possible thanks to Liverpool City Council, World Boxing Championships, England Boxing, GB Boxing and UKSPF, with support from adi.tv. 

For more details, visit the Culture Liverpool website.  

Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, Councillor Harry Doyle, said: “Liverpool has a proud history of hosting massive global events such as Eurovision and the World Gymnastics Championships, which not only boost the local economy but also offer an opportunity to inspire and raise the aspirations of young people. “It is a huge coup for Liverpool to be hosting the inaugural World Boxing Championships but we want the legacy of the event to last much longer than just 10 days. We are delighted to be working with our communities and boxing clubs to ensure that we can support the future grassroots development of boxing in the city.  “The engagement programme will support cross-curricular learning, while encouraging our young people to get into habits which improve their physical and mental health, that hopefully continue long after the event.” 

Jason Harborow, Chair of the World Boxing Championships 2025 Steering Group, added: “It is really important when major events like the World Boxing Championships come to the UK that they have a positive impact and celebrate the work of people that do so much good work in the community in delivering the sport at the grassroots and Unsung Heroes is a brilliant example of a project that is doing this. “Liverpool is one of the most vibrant cities in the UK when it comes to boxing and that is because of the great work that goes in clubs and communities, and it is fantastic to see that this is being acknowledged and celebrated as part of the World Boxing Championships.” 

Open Eye Gallery’s Head of Social Practice, Sophie Mahon, said: “This exhibition offers a unique insight into the faces and stories of those creating a lasting impact and legacy within their local clubs and communities, capturing the spirit, resilience, and impact of the sport at its roots. “As this project has made clear, at a grassroots level, boxing is about far more than competition. These clubs offer safe spaces, structure, and support, especially for young people, fostering resilience, self-belief, and connection.  “They are places where confidence is built and where champions are measured not only by medals, but by the positive change they inspire.”

Two-time professional world champion, Natasha Jonas, and rising star, Odel Kamara, from GB Boxing and Salisbury ABC have officially launched ‘tickets on sale’ for the forthcoming World Boxing Championships, at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, 4-14 September 2025.

More than 500 men and women from over 60 countries will compete in the tournament which is the biggest Olympic-style boxing event to be held in the UK since London 2012. It will feature competition in 10 weight classes for men and women and be the first time ever that male and female boxers have competed in Olympic-style boxing at the same event for the title of World Boxing Champion.

Tickets for the Championships are on sale from 11:00 on Wednesday 30 April 2025 on Ticket Quarter at Get Tickets

Prices start at £15 for Adults and £5 for Concessions (U16, OAPs, Students and those in receipt of benefits). A “buy 10, get one free” offer is available for group bookings.

At the media event to launch the ticket sales, Natasha and Odel were joined by four young boxers from Higherside ABC in Whiston, the Chair of Liverpool Sport, Clare Briegal, and the Independent Chair of the World Boxing Championships 2025 Steering Group. Jason Harborow.

Natasha Jonas, who won a world championship medal in 2011 on route to representing Team GB at London 2012, said: “I know from my own experiences that the world championships is the best versus the best when it comes to Olympic-style boxing, so this is going to be a really top-class competition that I am sure boxing fans will enjoy.

“Liverpool is a great city for boxing, where people really understand the sport and I am sure they will get behind the boxers and provide great support to all of our home nation men and women.

“The fact that this is the first ever combined world championships for men and women makes it even more special and I am sure it will be a fantastic event and a great showcase for everything that is good about the sport of boxing. 

“It shows how far the women’s sport has come and to have this event in Liverpool will be great for boxing across the city as there will be lots of activities with clubs, schools and community groups to help the sport to continue to grow and develop.”

Odel Kamara boxes for Salisbury ABC and is part of Great Britain’s Olympic programme where he trains with the GB Boxing squad at its training centre in Sheffield every week.  The 21-year-old has enjoyed success recently, winning gold and silver at his two most recent international competitions, and is hoping to be selected to compete at the Championships in his hometown.

Odel added: “Ever since it I heard this event was coming to Liverpool, this has been my number one priority.  To have the chance to compete at World Boxing Championships in my hometown would be a dream come true and I cannot wait for September to come round when I can show everyone what I am capable of. 

“This is a massive opportunity for me in the build-up to LA28 which can really get me known as one of the best boxers on the circuit at my weight and I am determined to do everything I can to make sure I take it. All of the boxers in the GB squad are excited about having this even on home soil and it is the main focus of everyone in the gym for this year.”

Further details about the event are available at https://www.worldboxingliverpool.com/.

As part of the event, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) is committed to ensuring that the World Boxing Championships 2025 has a positive social impact across the Liverpool City Region and will be delivering a wide range of activities to engage with local communities and provide opportunities for thousands of people to benefit from the staging of the Championships.

Activities will include

• Delivering a series of ‘boxing activator’ courses to train people in schools, community organisations on providing non-contact boxing courses to school age children
• The appointment of a full-time Coaching Apprentice who will be tasked with delivering more than 1,100 hours of community coaching over 15 months
• Delivering more than 50 ‘non-contact boxing taster’ sessions to community groups
• Delivering England Boxing accredited courses to qualify more than 35 new coaches and 20 new officials
• The delivery of the Literacy Kicks programme in 20 schools, which uses non-contact boxing as a means to support literacy in the classroom

The social impact activities will be overseen by England Boxing and are supported by the purpose-led independent law firm, Brabners who are a partner of the event.

Liverpool has a long history of staging major international events and was selected as the host of the inaugural World Boxing Championships following a successful bid that was developed by a group of partners which comprised England Boxing, GB Boxing, Liverpool City Council and the M&S Bank Arena, with the support of the National Lottery and UK Sport. Event partners are Sting, Nike Boxing, Brabners, the Liverpool Bid Company and Visit Liverpool.

Boxing fans can get exclusive early access to tickets for the World Boxing Championships 2025 in Liverpool by REGISTERING NOW at www.worldboxingliverpool.com for the priority presale to purchase tickets from 11:00 on Monday 28 April 2025.

The priority presale is open for 48 hours before tickets go on general sale at 11:00 on Wednesday 30 April 2025 at Ticket Quarter.

The World Boxing Championships 2025 for elite men and women will run from 4 – 14 September 2025 at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool.

More than 500 boxers from over 60 countries will take part in the competition which will be the first Elite-level global championships hosted by World Boxing, the new International Federation for Olympic style boxing.  It will be the biggest Olympic-style boxing event to be held in Great Britain since the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The action will feature competition in 10 weight classes for both men and women and be the first time ever that male and female boxers have competed in Olympic-style boxing for the title of World Boxing Champion at the same event.

Liverpool has a long history of staging major international events and was selected as the host of the inaugural World Boxing Championships following a successful bid that was developed by a group of partners which comprised England Boxing, GB Boxing, Liverpool City Council and the M&S Bank Arena, with the support of the National Lottery and UK Sport. Event partners are Sting, Nike Boxing, Brabners, the Liverpool Bid Company and Visit Liverpool.

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the inaugural World Boxing Championships 2025 has launched a new website – https://www.worldboxingliverpool.com/ – to provide information about the event which will be held at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool from 4–14 September 2025.

Anyone that is interested in getting early information about the Championships, including ticket offers and details about volunteering opportunities is advised to sign-up for updates via the website.

More than 500 boxers from over 60 countries will take part in the competition which will be the first Elite-level global championships hosted by World Boxing, the new International Federation for Olympic style boxing.  It will be the biggest Olympic-style boxing event to be held in Great Britain since the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The action will feature competition in 10 weight classes for both men and women and be the first time ever that male and female boxers have competed in Olympic-style boxing for the title of World Boxing Champion at the same event.

Liverpool has a long history of staging major international events and was selected as the host of the inaugural World Boxing Championships following a successful bid that was developed by a group of partners which comprised England Boxing, GB Boxing, Liverpool City Council and the M&S Bank Arena, with the support of the National Lottery and UK Sport. Event partners are Sting, Nike Boxing, Brabners, the Liverpool Bid Company and Visit Liverpool. For further information on the World Boxing Championships 2025 visit  https://www.worldboxingliverpool.com/.