Liverpool has won the bid to host the inaugural World Boxing Championships, an Olympic-style event launched by the new International Federation World Boxing.
Set to take place from 4-14 September 2025 at the M&S Bank Arena, the Championships will feature 10 weight classes for both men and women, marking the first time male and female boxers have competed in Olympic-style boxing for the title of world champion at the same event.
Further details, including the weight categories, will be confirmed in the new edition of World Boxing’s Competition Rules, which will be revealed after its Congress in November.
Supported by the National Lottery and UK Sport, the bid to host the competition was developed by a collection of boxing and event stakeholders from the UK, such as England Boxing, GB Boxing, Liverpool City Council and the M&S Bank Arena.
Jerome Pels, Chief Executive of England Boxing, commented: “The World Boxing Championships is not just another big sporting event – it is a game-changer for us.
“It is a strategic initiative that aligns with our goals of establishing a unified international governing body, inspiring the next generation of boxers, boosting participation, and strengthening communities through boxing.
“We are thrilled to host this event and confident it will have a huge, lasting impact on both our organisation and the future of the sport itself.”
Launched in 2023 to ensure that boxing remains a key sport at the Olympics, World Boxing currently has 44 members from all five continents who compete in international boxing. The organisation expects its membership to increase significantly by September 2025.
There were huge concerns around the world of boxing, as the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles had no plans to include the sport. Athletes and supporters of the sport emphasised the issues that this would create, threatening not only amateur boxing but the sport as a whole.
“We are delighted to be supporting the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool next year, an event which will support efforts to help the sport establish a long-term future in the Olympic movement,” said Esther Britten, Head of Events and External Affairs at UK Sport.
“After the incredible summer of sport, having the opportunity to compete in front of a home crowd is a huge boost for our boxers. We look forward to working with our event hosting partners to deliver this exciting event.”
As well as revitalising boxing, the city of Liverpool is also set to gain benefits from this opportunity, with Councillor Harry Doyle of Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Health, describing it as a “huge coup” and “one which the city is proud to be welcoming”.
Liverpool has a long history of hosting sporting and cultural events. Recently, it hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 2023, the 2019 Vitality Netball World Cup and the 2022 World Gymnastics Championship – all of which were held at the M&S Bank Arena.
The President of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst, stated: “Liverpool is a globally famous city with a proud heritage in boxing and it will be a fantastic place to host our first ever Elite World Boxing Championships.
“This will be a superb showcase for the sport of Olympic boxing, particularly as it will be the first time ever that the men and women’s competition will run alongside each other as part of the same Championships.
“I would like to thank all of our partners in Great Britain and the city of Liverpool for their enthusiasm and support in wanting to stage these Championships and I look forward to working closely with all of them to deliver what will be a historic event for the boxers and for our sport.”
