IBA CEO Chris Roberts commends Sri Lanka’s hosting of Asian Boxing Championships VICTORY FOR ASIAN BOXING

ASBC Interim President Aziz Kozhambetov (left) and IBA CEO and Secretary General Chris Roberts presenting awards to the Youth Best Boxers

By Allaam Ousman

Chris Roberts, CEO and Secretary General of the International Boxing Association (IBA), praised Sri Lanka’s efforts in hosting its first major international boxing event in decades. 

In an exclusive interview during the ASBC Asian Under-22 and Youth Boxing Championships in Colombo, Roberts spoke candidly about the challenges, governance dynamics, and the future of the sport, emphasising the resilience of IBA and the promise Asia holds for global boxing.

“Mr. Anuruddha (Shanaka Bandara) has done an outstanding job,” Roberts said. “This is the first time a tournament of this magnitude is being held in Sri Lanka, and the warm welcome from the people of Colombo has really stood out. There’s a real spirit of sport here, and it reflects so well on the host federation.”

Roberts was impressed with the overall setup. “The hotel’s nice, the venue’s nice, and the boxing has been good. On top of that, the courses for officials we’ve run here have added real value. It’s been an all-round package - a win-win situation.”

The tournament’s organisation came with several hurdles - financial constraints, government approvals, and broader governance tensions in the global boxing landscape.

“Business as usual,” Roberts shrugged off concerns. “Nothing has changed for IBA. We continue our work, supporting national federations, delivering both amateur and professional events. These things are never easy, but from a governance perspective, everything is aligned for us.”

He acknowledged the ongoing tension with the breakaway body World Boxing, but didn’t see it affecting IBA’s mission. “They haven’t established a clear identity. As I’ve said before, they piggyback on everyone else’s events. They take our trained officials and try to jump on our nest. The result? Confusion among national federations.”

Roberts had high praise for the continent’s contribution to the sport. “Asia is a world-class platform for boxing. Nations like Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are producing elite athletes. It’s about bout volume - the number of fights these boxers get - and the quality of coaches. National federations in Asia support each other, and that’s key.”

Chris Roberts (second from left) meeting Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage with BASL and ASCB boxing officials

With several IBA events at the youth level - including tournaments for school boys and girls - Roberts believes the momentum is sustainable. “Business as usual,” he said again. “We’re committed to the long term. These tournaments are vital in developing talent for the future.”

Asked about pressure on federations like Sri Lanka’s to shift allegiance or seek dual membership with the rival organisation, Roberts was clear: “National federations can always put such requests in writing. Our board of directors will consider it. But we’ve never restricted boxers from participating in our events. We support them - always have.”

Would non-acceptance of dual membership by the rival body mean boxers losing their Olympic dreams? “That would be a sorry, sad state of affairs,” Roberts said. “We believe in co-existence. They can co-exist with us.”

Despite the turbulence, Roberts is optimistic. “Boxing has an extremely bright future. We’re the only organisation that offers a hybrid pathway - from amateur to professional and back again. Our prize money is excellent.”

He also hinted at future innovations - including the innovative bare-knuckle boxing format.

“It’s an interesting project. As a purist, I find it fascinating. We need to evolve with what the younger generation wants. We’re studying trends, analytics, and marketing data. Bare-knuckle has to be governed and managed correctly, but there’s real commercial potential.”

Roberts reserved special praise for the man behind the scenes - President of the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka, Anuruddha Shanaka Bandara. “Mr. Anuruddha has been excellent - a great leader for this event. He’s been in communication with us every day, working tirelessly. And what you see now, this tournament, is the culmination of all that effort.”

“We had a very positive meeting with the Sports Minister (Sunil Kumara Gamage) as well. Anuruddha not only managed the operational aspects, but also engaged at the highest level of government. To bring this event to life, ending with 50 finals over two days - that’s some feat, isn’t it?”