The International Boxing Association has opened bidding for major events ©Getty Images

The International Boxing Association (AIBA) has opened the bidding process for its major events between 2018 and 2021.

The Men's World Boxing Championships in 2019 and 2021, the Women's World Boxing Championships in 2018 and 2019 and the Youth Men's and Women's World Championships in 2018 are all on offer for interested cities.

In 2019, the Men's and Women's World Championships will become aligned for the first time, which means that a single host could stage both tournaments.

Holding the flagship events in the same year is also part of plans to offer a "clear and direct qualification schedule" for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The Men's and Women's World Championships could be held in the same city from 2019 ©AIBA
The Men's and Women's World Championships could be held in the same city from 2019 ©AIBA

"Having surpassed 200 National Federation members at the end of 2016, and with key reforms, greater gender equality and education initiatives central ingredients of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic cycle, boxing's appeal continues to grow around the world," an AIBA statement said. 

"The 2015 Men's World Championships in Doha and 2016 Women's World Championships in Astana saw new markets emerge and new heights reached for the quality of the competition both in and out of the ring, with fresh stars rising in the glare of the global media spotlight."

German city Hamburg will host the next edition of the Men's World Championships this year, between August 25 and September 3.