Umar Kremlev has drawn a line in the sand.
The International Boxing Association president announced this week that if the International Olympic Committee does not revise its policy on athlete compensation ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games, the IBA will once again award prize money to Olympic boxers.
Kremlev made a similar move for the Paris 2024 Olympics, when the IBA distributed more than $3 million to medalists and select finalists. Gold medalists received $100,000, with $50,000 going to the athlete and the remainder split evenly between coach and national federation. Silver medalists were awarded $50,000, bronze medalists $25,000, and fifth-place finishers $10,000.
The IOC does not pay direct prize money to Olympic medalists. Its longstanding position is that revenue generated from broadcasting and sponsorship agreements is redistributed through national Olympic committees and international federations to support sport development.
That structure has come under increasing scrutiny. Several athletes in other Olympic disciplines have recently criticized restrictions on personal sponsorship visibility and questioned how Olympic revenues are allocated.
Kremlev framed the issue as systemic rather than symbolic.
"If by the 2028 Olympics the IOC does not change its strategy in the interest of protecting athletes, the IBA is ready to step in once again," he said.
The statement is both financial and political. Olympic boxing has faced years of administrative instability, and tensions between the IOC and the IBA have been well documented. By publicly committing to fund medal bonuses again, Kremlev is positioning the IBA as an athlete-first alternative to the IOC model.
Whether the IOC alters its compensation philosophy remains uncertain. Historically, it has resisted calls to introduce direct prize payments.
For boxers preparing for Los Angeles 2028, however, the message is clear: if current policy remains in place, there will be money on the table, and the IBA intends to provide it.
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