Boxing and charity as a bridge between traditions, faith, and the future

The Russian Cross charitable foundation is already being called one of the most prominent new projects in Russian philanthropy, and this is largely connected not only with the scale of its assistance, but also with the way it bridges the spiritual, social, and humanitarian agendas of Russia and the UAE. At the heart of this story are children, their families, and those who — through charity, religious ministry, and cultural mission — help them gain access to treatment, rehabilitation, and a new foundation for life.

A Home That Was Missing

Amid the sands of Arabia, in the emirate of Sharjah, stands the Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Apostle Philip — the only Russian church on the entire Arabian Peninsula. It appeared here not as an exotic detail of an Eastern landscape, but as an answer to a very simple human need: thousands of Russian-speaking specialists who came to the UAE in the late 1990s and early 2000s were looking for a place to maintain their connection with faith, language, and culture. For twenty years, the Orthodox community managed with rented halls and the hospitality of other Christian communities — until the Muslim ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, gifted the Orthodox community two hectares of land for a church.

This gesture became one of the most striking examples of how Islam and Orthodoxy can not only coexist peacefully, but build a respectful dialogue at the level of concrete decisions. In 2011, the church was consecrated, and for the first time, the sound of Orthodox bells rang out above the desert — next to minarets and the call to prayer, in a space where Islam is the official religion but the UAE Constitution guarantees freedom of religion. Today, in the church, an event that is almost imperceptible to the city but important for the community is taking place: Father Alexander receives the myrrh-streaming icon ‘The Softening of Evil Hearts,’ which — with the support of the founder of the Russian Cross foundation, Umar Kremlev — has arrived briefly from Serpukhov near Moscow. This is the first visit of this holy relic to the Emirates. The very iconography speaks of what matters most: seven swords piercing the heart of the Mother of God symbolize the fullness of pain and grief, but also the hope of overcoming enmity and bitterness. That is why this image resonates especially with today — a time that still needs not loud slogans but mercy, trust, and inner peace. The image that people once reached out to in Russian churches now stands in Sharjah, amid the sands and skyscrapers, and before it they pray for peace in the family and the health of children.

Orthodoxy and Islam: Common Points of Support

The story of the Church of the Apostle Philip clearly illustrates what is rarely said aloud: Orthodoxy and Islam have far more in common than it might seem. Both faiths rest on the idea of mercy, responsibility for one’s neighbor, and the readiness to help the weak — and it is around these values that both interfaith dialogues and joint social initiatives are built.

Notably, the church in Sharjah is dedicated to the Apostle Philip, who, according to sacred tradition, preached Christianity in these lands back in the 1st century. Today, the Christian community lives here at peace with the Muslim majority, sharing the city’s space and everyday life.

Inside the church — a Sunday school where children study the Russian language, the foundations of the Orthodox faith, history, and literature, as well as a unique collection of holographic copies of the greatest Christian relics, donated by Patriarch Kirill. This is a space where ancient tradition does not conflict with technology but uses it: 3D holograms of the Shroud of Turin and the Gifts of the Magi become a language understandable to teenagers who have grown up in a world of gadgets and social media.

The Russian Cross: Charity as a Continuation of Faith

The Russian Cross foundation emerged in a different historical context — in Russia of the 2020s, where the demand for targeted, professional, and transparent charity had become the norm. The foundation’s trustee and patron, public figure and president of the International Boxing Association (IBA), Umar Kremlev, speaks openly about helping others as a personal responsibility and way of life.

The Russian Cross is not simply point-in-time support, but systemic help for those who find themselves in a vulnerable position, whether families with seriously ill children or people going through a difficult period.

One such example is the story of ten-year-old Bogdan Makarov, who lives with a severe form of Duchenne muscular dystrophy — a hereditary neuromuscular disease in which muscles progressively deteriorate.

Despite his diagnosis, Bogdan and his family do not give up and continue to fight for his health and future, and a community of people ready to support them is forming around them: bloggers, public figures, subscribers, and friends. Thanks to this support, funds were raised for treatment, with many helping not only with money but also with a kind word, attention, and participation — everything that makes help come alive. The fundraiser for Bogdan was closed; treatment and rehabilitation in Dubai were paid for and completed.

In April, when words about sacrifice, forgiveness, and love for one’s neighbor resound for millions of people around the world, his story becomes a very precise illustration of a new value in which both believers and those who simply cannot pass by come together. “Try to love your neighbors actively and tirelessly,” Dostoevsky wrote, and in the history of the Russian Cross foundation, this line of Russian classic literature sounds like a very practical call to action.

This philosophy of active help finds its continuation in the large-scale initiatives of Umar Kremlev as well. For him, supporting those who strive for victory — whether a child fighting an illness or an athlete representing their country — is a single vector for the development of a healthy society.

Moving from targeted humanitarian missions to global sports projects, the president of the International Boxing Association (IBA) creates an environment where sport becomes the highest expression of social responsibility.

The IBA Victory Ecosystem: From Charity to World Recognition

The World Men’s Boxing Championship held in Dubai in December 2025 became a vivid confirmation of the philosophy of active help. The tournament, which brought together more than 500 boxers from 118 countries, was not simply a celebration of professional sport but an embodiment of a new development model centered on the individual.

A record prize fund of $8.32 million and a unique distribution system — where payments go not only to boxers but also to their coaches and national federations — reflect the logic of ‘active love’ in sport: support for not just the final result, but the entire journey toward it.

In this system, champion boxers become true role models who inspire. Their success is a story of discipline and resilience that inspires thousands of young men and women, boys and girls around the world to believe in themselves.

As Umar Kremlev notes, the task of the international system is to ensure that boxing remains a working social elevator, giving talented athletes from any country a chance to change their lives and realize their potential.

Helping children through the foundation and supporting boxers in world arenas are facets of one and the same task: creation. We invest in the person, in their character and their dream. When we provide athletes with record prize money and equal opportunities, we are not simply developing sport — we are giving society new leaders, role models who prove by their own example that perseverance and the support of like-minded people can open any door.

Umar Kremlev

The triumph of the World Championship in Dubai proved once again that systemic investment in people and infrastructure yields historic results. Thus, work in the sphere of sport becomes an organic continuation of charity: both in the foundation and in the world ring, the main value remains faith in the human being and the creation of conditions for their worthy future.

Professional Boxing: Athletes’ Interests Above All

Professional boxing has always lived by its own rules, where the athletes, their image, and their influence were not the highest priority. Having taken up the development of world boxing, the IBA — thanks to the initiative of its president — decided to change the situation, which ultimately resulted in the creation of the professional IBA PRO series, which already numbers 15 highly successful tournaments. The new format of professional tournaments is, above all, a matter of an athlete’s social protection. Unlike the long-chaotic professional market, here the athlete remains within a transparent system where their rights are protected by international standards, and their fees allow not merely to survive, but to invest in their future and that of their family. This creates continuity: a young boxer sees a clear path from first steps in the gym to the status of a world star, understanding that at every stage their talent will be given worthy support and a fair evaluation. After the end of their career, an athlete can become a coach, passing on their experience to a new generation of champions.

New Equal Opportunities: The Foundation of the Strategy

Today’s IBA strategy, implemented by Umar Kremlev, fundamentally changes the traditional perception of boxing, transforming it from a narrow discipline into a global platform for self-realization by people of any age and social status. In this model, sport ceases to be only physical training and becomes a key that opens doors to the world of high technology, creative industries, and new professions.

An important step in the digital transformation of society was the creation of the IBA Boxing Game — a cross-platform digital universe that erases borders between countries and physical capabilities. For the current generation, this is not just a game mechanic but a full-fledged inclusive environment. Here, in a single virtual space, a world-class athlete and a teenager who, for health reasons, cannot step into a real ring can meet and compete.

The project performs a crucial educational function: through gamification, it instills discipline and teaches strategic planning and data analysis. For many young people, an enthusiasm for the IBA Boxing Game becomes the first step toward a career in IT, sports management, or system administration, turning a hobby into an in-demand profession of the future.

Boxing Is Not Only a Sport, but Also Self-Realization Through Creativity

The same deep social and humanitarian meaning is carried by the IBA Fashion project, which elevates boxing culture to the level of a global lifestyle. By creating its own lines of clothing, accessories, and high-tech equipment, IBA forms a new niche in the creative economy, providing hundreds of jobs and opportunities for self-expression: here, former boxers can realize themselves in design, logistics, marketing, or brand management.

A logical development of this openness and aspiration to bring people together was the launch of the innovative IBA Connect platform. This unique communication space was created specifically for ‘creators’ from all over the world. The platform breaks down barriers and makes it possible to create exclusive content accessible to everyone who is passionate about the idea of sport. This turns boxing into a vast creative hub, where a person with a camera or a smartphone in hand can find recognition.

Even ‘Bare-Knuckle’ — Through Respect and the Safety of Athletes

Even the systemic reform of a discipline such as bare-knuckle boxing, under the aegis of the IBA, became, above all, a mission to protect human dignity. Bringing this discipline out of the ‘gray zone’ and turning it into a legitimate sport with strict medical standards, mandatory insurance, and legal guarantees is an act of responsibility toward the athletes. In its policy, the IBA insists that any risk must be minimized and the fighter’s labor protected by law and social obligations. For many athletes whose path in classic boxing did not work out for various reasons, this professionalization became a ‘second wind.’ They gained not just a venue to perform, but reliable social protection and the right to professional recognition under safe and fair conditions. Thus, a unique social construction system is being built in the world of boxing. This ecosystem does not simply produce champions — it raises leaders and people who look confidently toward the future. Here, work in the sphere of sport becomes an organic continuation of the philosophy of ‘active love’: in the ring, in the digital space, and in the creative workshop alike, the main goal remains the creation of a solid foundation on which any person can build a worthy future.