At the IBA's Champions' Night event in Abu Dhabi last month, the IBA awarded winners with a similar belt to the WBC Championship prize.

"The World Boxing Council has learned that the International Boxing Association (IBA) recently: (1) organised, advertised, and publicised an event called IBA’s Champion Night; and (2) awarded a boxing belt in connection therewith confusingly similar to the WBC Championship Belt," read a WBC statement, as reported by Boxing Scene.

"In short, IBA is using the intellectual property assets of the WBC in an infringing manner and without authorisation of the WBC as the assets' rightful owner.

"The WBC wants to make it absolutely clear that it has put IBA on notice of the WBC’s complete rejection and opposition to IBA's unauthorised use of a belt that is confusingly similar to the iconic WBC World Championship Belt.

"The WBC has also informed IBA and it will take any legal measures available to stop IBA’s infringing activities and to seek appropriate redress therefrom.

"The WBC is in no way associated with IBA."

In November, the IBA signed an agreement with the World Boxing Association, one of the WBC's main sanctioning body rivals, with a focus on creating single regulations for amateur and professional boxing.

Other areas the partnership was due to focus on included medical safety, coaches development and technical and competition rules.

The agreement was criticised in some quarters, with Ukrainian former world heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko describing it as "a stain on the coat of the noble art."   

The WBC has also criticised the IBA for lifting its ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes last October.

The IBA insists there is no wrongdoing in the design of its belt.

"IBA received WBC communication regarding the design of the belt used at the 2022 Champions' Night in Abu Dhabi, however, it does not contain any reference to the copyright of the trademarks registered in the UAE, where the event took place," the IBA told insidethegames.

"In this regard, IBA has requested from WBC necessary legal information missed in initial request.

"Any further actions will be taken by IBA based on the motivated reply from WBC.

"IBA reserves its rights to act against unfounded and open accusations damaging IBA reputation."

The WBC also publicly declared its support for the International Olympic Committee's governance concerns which has led to it leaving boxing off the programme for Los Angeles 2028.