The Tournament — Berlin Cup International 2026

The idea

The Berlin Cup International brings young boxers from many countries to Berlin for five days. The aim is to establish an annual, internationally recognised youth tournament in the city. Berlin has a long boxing tradition but no fixed international youth tournament. That is the gap the Berlin Cup sets out to close.

Age classes

There are two age classes: U17 and U19. Both are standard youth categories internationally. The weight classes and all further rules will be set out in the official invitation once it has been released.

How boxing works here

Amateur boxing is scored on points; it is not an exhibition. Technique, ring craft and discipline are what count. Every bout takes place under medical supervision and follows the rules of Olympic-style amateur boxing. For many of the boxers, an international tournament is their first experience outside their own federation.

Isigym Boxsport Berlin

The organising club grew out of “Wir aktiv. Boxsport & mehr”, a neighbourhood project started in 2007 together with the housing company Gewobag in Schöneberg-Nord. Its work has been supported by Gewobag since 2005 and by the Stiftung Berliner Leben since 2013. Since 2013 Isigym has been Berlin's only Olympic youth training centre for boxing. Alongside competitive sport, the club runs open training for children and young people from the neighbourhood.

Izzet Mafratoglu

Chairman and head coach Izzet Mafratoglu was twice German champion. In 2014 he was named Volunteer of the Year at Berlin's Rotes Rathaus. He was Sophie Alisch's first coach. Of his work he says: “I always say: the real boxing match is life itself.”

What the tournament stands for

The Berlin Cup is a youth tournament and is run as one. It is about experience, bearing and respect, not records. “It is not the fight but the character that sets people apart,” says Izzet Mafratoglu. In time the Berlin Cup is intended to become a competition recognised by European Boxing; progress towards that will be documented openly here.