80th Layton Cup on March 2

Light Flyweight bout- Jeewan Kumara (Red) and Sanjeewa Nuwan (Blue)

The 80th Layton Cup Men’s and Women’s Boxing Championship conducted by the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) will be worked off from March 2 to 5 at Royal MAS Arena stadium, Colombo.   

The championship will commence at 2.00 p.m. on each day while the finals will start at 11.00a.m.   

This is the first major boxing tournament being held after a lapse of two years since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.   

The 79th Layton Cup was held in August 2019 with Army’s M.P.G. Sajeewa Nuwan being awarded the coveted Layton Cup awarded to the Best Boxer of the meet while K.A.K. Hansika of Unichela was adjudged the women’s Best Boxer.   

Over 100 boxers representing 14 clubs are expected to take part in this tournament which will serve as the second trial to select Sri Lanka boxers for 2022 Commonwealth Games. The first selection trial was held in December 2021.   

Another significant feature of the meet will be the introduction of new weight classes introduced by the world governing body IBA (International Boxing Association). There will be 13 weight categories for men and 12 for women pugilists.   

BASL president Dian Gomes will grace the finals as the chief guest. (SP)