IBA OKAYS TUNISIA PRO BOXING GALA NIGHT ON FRIDAY

The International Boxing Association (IBA) has okayed the Pro Boxing Gala Night scheduled for Tunis this Friday, January 24, at the Sidi Boussaid Gymnasium.

IBA Secretary General and CEO Chris Roberts OBE said the Tunisia Boxing Federation President Barbouche Zied officially wrote to IBA seeking their approval to stage the Pro Boxing Gala Night.

“The IBA is aware they’ve been concerns about the manner in which the Tunisia event was being organised but following our communication with the Tunisian federation president we’ve managed to sort it out and given them our blessings to go ahead with the pro boxing card,” said Roberts, adding, “This is a good event for African boxers, we are also going to organise more similar contests to boost African boxers. This is why we staged the IBA Champions’ Night in Addis Ababa last year with boxers earning good money because we believe in securing a better future for our boxers to invest on their earnings.”

In response to IBA’s involvement on the Tunisia Pro Boxing Gala Night, the the federation president Barbouche Zied thanked the IBA for their wisdom in approving the event.

“I would like to thank the entire IBA team and especially the Secretary General Chris Roberts for the support they have given us to ensure the success of the Pro Boxing Gala Night Tunis 2025,” said Zied in a statement to boxersworld.co.ke

“We’re very grateful to IBA’s Secretary General Chris Roberts for understanding our situation and promising to support more pro boxing events in Africa, we appreciate the collaboration with IBA which now paves way for the organisation of more prize money tournaments in Africa,” said Zied.

“I sincerely appreciate the efforts of the IBA to celebrate African brotherhood in our African boxing gala in Tunisia and all the work that has been done to preserve the union of the African boxing family regarding our historic event. This shows IBA’s commitment in the development of boxing in Africa.

Zied said it’s all systems go now following IBA’s backing.

“Currently everything is going on well, already we’re welcoming representatives of the countries which will participate in this important Pro Boxing Gala Night on January 24 in Sidi Boussaid, happy to welcome my fellow presidents of the African boxing federations,

we have scheduled a press conference on January 23 to be attended by national and international media.”

In Friday’s 10-bout card, the main fight is a six-round cruiserweight duel between three-time Africa champion Pita Kabeji of DR Congo vs Tunisia’s Mohamed Riahi.

Mauritius’ two-time Olympian Merven Clair has been replaced by Tunisia’s Hamza Wassim at light-middleweight and Tunisia’s flyweight Amel Chebbi replaced by compatriot Rahma Nahari who meets DRC’s Africa champion Nyembo Gisele.