DUBAI – Al Siesta believes staging the first heavyweight title fight in Dubai is a show of intent from the ambitious IBA organization.
On Friday, the IBA will stage a deep card and the WBA regular title bout between veteran Bulgarian champion Kubrat Pulev and Russian challenger Murat Gassiev, a former unified champion at cruiserweight who has had his last eight bouts at heavyweight.
In boxing, of course, Oleksandr Usyk reigns as the No. 1 heavyweight in the world and there is no doubting the diminished reputation of the WBA’s heavyweight crown.
But that piece of silverware could prove pivotal in the IBA’s significant plans to become a global force in boxing.
“Look, for the sheer quality of the WBA heavyweight world championships, definitely, I think this is the strongest ever show we've done so far, to date,” Siesta, promoter and director general of the IBA, told BoxingScene. “We had some lightweight, I think super featherweight WBA world championships, unification with the IBA, but this one is humongous, man, honestly. Names like Gassiev, Pulev, unbelievable. Honestly, it's an honour to promote these things. It’s like I'm living a dream.”
Siesta, who resides in Southampton, England, has spent much of the year on the move and he has been in Dubai on business for weeks working on the IBA amateur championships and the build-up to the pro show at the Duty Free Tennis Stadium on Friday.
“I’m a bit dazed by hard work and dedication, but it’s unbelievable,” he continued, talking of his desire to work with all of the major names in the sport. “And the big message is we’re sharing, we’re not separating. We’re not here to build walls. We’re here to build bridges.”
IBA’s Russian boss Umar Kremlev this week told the media that he hoped to expand the IBA’s reach into further territories in 2026.
Does that mean they envisage fights in locations like the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and Wembley Stadium in London?
“Absolutely,” Siesta added. “I've been speaking to British counterparts just in general to promote us and to the British boxing scene. You know I'm a Brit myself, really. I’m a British Boxing Board of Control licensee, I won’t say born and bred. The incentive is early next year to bring IBA growth shows to the UK. I spoke to Robert Smith [general secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control] and he said it [the IBA]’s a legitimate organisation, very organised, at the highest standard and everything. We’re speaking to the broadcasters. “Look, there is an affiliation. They think that because Umar Kremlev, who is Russian by passport, has affiliation with the Russian situation… It’s a huge international organisation consisting of offices in Switzerland, offices in Dubai, and it will be prejudiced to think that on the basis that Umar is the president is a Russian organisation. It’s wrong.
“Because he's got a relationship with Putin though, right? Yeah, on the level of being a sporting functionary, the most serious one in terms of fighting for Russian representation abroad, raising Russian flags, playing national anthem, just a proud man because he thinks that all the wars should be in the ring. IBA, particularly Umar, is against these political games and all this garbage and nonsense, geopolitical stuff and intrigues and backstabbing stuff. He wants to stay clear because sport is here.”
What Siesta says sounds idealistic. A company that works with everyone and for everyone. And it is a sport that currently has a fixed center of power, with Saudi Arabian money flowing through the sport like no other cash has done before.
“[The] Saudis [have] got slightly different goals because Saudis are working for their country in terms of like it’s like a big tourist council,” Siesta added. “It’s promoting Saudi as a country with good human rights and everything… Saudi 2030. It’s like raising the bar for the country and awareness of how wonderful Saudi is. We are an international global organisation.
“We are not focusing on one particular territory. In fact, we are going everywhere and we would like the IBA to be present everywhere. IBA UK, IBA Poland, Russia, Ukraine, you name it. And we are happy to help grassroots boxing as well. We are keen to invest in the UK youth scene as well.”
Siesta said there have been “a few” meetings between Kremlev and Saudi head honcho Turki Alalshikh.
“Absolutely,” Siesta went on. “They aligned. I think in some way they’re business partners. I think they’ve got some common interests; mutual common interests and mutual projects.”
Siesta said the IBA’s ambitions are growing rapidly.
“And Umar, the kind of guy, he’s very immediate, very now, very today,” Siesta added. “A five-year plan? It's unbearable for him to even think of. He wants everything to happen now. His goals are short term, not medium or long term. Absolutely. He wants it now, which is a brilliant thing. I understand that ethos. And I’m the kind of guy, I love this. I’m thriving on this kind of thing. Because life’s too short, man.”
Kremlev is largely a man of mystery in boxing circles, but Siesta said he’s a former fighter.
“He did box. He boxed. He boxed on the streets,” Siesta said.
“He boxed in the club. He comes from a very deprived background. The most amazing thing about people comparing him to Turki Alalshikh. Turki Alalshikh, I don’t know, but I assume he was born to money. Umar Kremlev went from the lowest level, the street level. He’s got Tajikistani origin and everything which, at the time in the Soviet Union, it wasn’t easy when you’re not Russian, for example. So Umar has done unbelievably well with everything he’s done. That’s why I admire this guy. He’s inspirational. He’s fearless.”
So how did Kremlev get to the position he presently occupies?
“By being smart. By being pushy. By being ballsy,” Siesta went on. “And basically being a brave guy. That’s all. That’s all I can say to you. He’s a very ballsy guy. That guy takes no nonsense. He knows where he wants to be and he goes there. And that’s how he leads the organization. He’s very human as well. He’s got a great sense of humor.”
Kremlev said at yesterday’s press conference: “We have different options we are working on to create the best conditions for the boxers. I’d like to continue the programme and next year we will be inviting the top boxers and with five matches at heavyweight. We are open, we are not for separate titles. We are uniting everyone, through amateurs and professionals. All doors are open to boxers and their coaches.”
