When supermodel Naomi Campbell walked into the Rixos Tersane arena on July 2, Istanbul paused. Her presence at International Boxing Association(IBA) Pro 7 wasn’t just a nod to celebrity interest—it was a signal. The intersection between fashion and sport is in the global spotlight.
Naomi Campbell made this clear in both her official remarks and when I spoke to her on the sidelines of the event.
“Not only is boxing a sport, but it’s a movement and a state of mind.”
The night’s standout female bout featured Turkish legend Gulsum Tatar, fighting on home soil against Kazakhstan’s seasoned Milana Safronova. Tatar, known for her aggressive footwork and iron will, delivered a performance that electrified the crowd. Meanwhile, Tajikistan’s Mizhgona Samadova clashed with Iran’s Puneh Akhundtabarmazandarani in a gritty, emotional contest that showed how women’s boxing is becoming a central part of IBA’s new strategy.
Just as important was the fashion show which Naomi Campbell described in this way:
“IBA fashion is a clothing line that is here to win, and I want everyone to feel what I feel. Boxing isn’t only about the fight—it’s about presence, style, and voice. IBA is not just creating fashion; today IBA is creating a movement and a community where everyone is felt, seen, heard, and deeply respected.”
IBA President Umar Kremlev has made it clear: the future of boxing is diverse, bold, and open to innovation. The inclusion of high-profile women’s bouts, paired with the star power of guests like Campbell, underscores the IBA’s ambition to modernize the sport and elevate its female athletes to the same stage as their male counterparts.
And what a stage it was.
The main event delivered a shock few saw coming. Russia’s Albert Batyrgaziev, unbeaten and holding both WBA International and IBA Pro Super Featherweight titles, faced British underdog James “Jazza” Dickens. What began as a technical fight turned brutal in the fourth round, when Dickens landed a devastating sequence, forcing a TKO and silencing Batyrgaziev’s corner. The upset was witnessed by legends Tyson Fury, Roy Jones Jr., and Terence Crawford, all present ringside.
It was an incredible fan experience where fans and fighters mixed freely.
In a marquee match-up Hovhannes Bachkov of Armenia overwhelmed South Africa’s Xolisani Ndongeni, winning by TKO in the ninth. Campbell entered the ring to present the winner with his new IBA championship belt.
But perhaps the most daring addition to the night was IBA’s introduction of bare-knuckle boxing to the Pro roster. Fighters like Murat “Kazgan”, Will Chope, Elnur Suleymanov, and Mikhail Kokhanchik stepped into the ring glove-free, testing both their endurance and the audience’s appetite for primal combat.
From glamour to grit, IBA Pro 7 was a declaration: this is not the boxing of yesterday. With women at the forefront, bare-knuckle fights on the rise, and surprise upsets rewriting rankings, the IBA is carving a new path—where sport, spectacle, and inclusion meet in one explosive package.
BIO of Dr. Nathalie Beasnael
HE Dr. Nathalie Beasnael Affectionately known as “Lady Dene ”, HE Dr. Nathalie Beasnael, native of N’djamena, CHAD, has grown up and lived in Ghana, Spain, England, and the United States. Proud Pentalingual, speaking 5 languages fluently: English, French, Spanish, Twi, and Ngambaye, Nathalie grew into an effective masterful communicator.Born daughter of a Chadian diplomat, her diverse upbringing, multi-faceted education and life experiences propelled her global quest. Nathalie is a social entrepreneur, a seasoned humanitarian and philanthropist. Nathalie has positioned herself as an emerging leader in the Healthcare industry.
Founder of Health4peace non-profit 501c3, where the mission is to To Promote, protect and improve the lifelong health of the individuals and communities in rural areas of the world, while bridging the gap between the diasporas and African natives through health education with shared technology. Health 4Peace provides much needed medical supplies for daily usage and extreme conditions to hospitals in the rural areas of Senegal, Chad, Ghana and South Africa.
This past December ‘23 HE Dr. Nathalie Beasnael was invited to speak on a panel of world leaders at COP28 in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). She spoke at The 28th annual United Nations (UN) climate meeting, where governments discussed how to limit and prepare for future climate change.
Natalie is an effective communicator and has led discussion panels, fire-side chats, hosted TV programming focused on providing the community with informative, educational, thought-provoking conversations. Passion about celebrating change and growth within her native community, Nathalie grew to respectfully acknowledge and understand our unique differences, as a people and as human race. Lead to launch her International talk show, she founded Beasnael “We Are Not the Same ”.. The show sheds light on current issues and historical events that impact our lives. Nathalie’s requested appearances can be found in films, various television projects, including her voice in voiceover work for documentaries. Now paving the way in the fashion community, Nathalie shines as the lead Spokeswoman for Coquette Kouture a Los Angeles based high-fashion boutique inspiring native Africa attire.
Nathalie, fueled by her passion for fashion and her desire to unite diverse cultures through language, music, art and dance, has embarked on a new journey as the leading correspondent for IwomanTV. Nathalie, recently appointed as the Global Executive Campaign Director, uses her extensive background and skills to meet the needs of those in her communities, locally, nationally and on a global scale. Dr. Nathalie Beasnael, a recovery nurse at Surgical Institute, Beverly Hills, CA, mother of two beautiful children, a social entrepreneur, a seasoned humanitarian and philanthropist.
