Clifford Cup and Youth Boxing Meet in Kandy

 Action from a previous Clifford Cup Boxing Meet

By Susil Premalal

The 94th Boxing Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) Men’s and Women’s Clifford Cup Boxing Tournament and the Youth Boxing Championship will take place from December 18 to 22 at Sahas Uyana in Kandy.

For the first time, the event will be broadcast live on Peo Sports TV and digital platforms, expanding its reach to fans nationwide.

President, BASL Anuruddha Bandara underlining the significance of these events stated: “The Clifford Cup is one of our most prestigious national competitions, featuring the finest boxers from across Sri Lanka.”

“Alongside this, the Youth Boxing Championship provides an important platform to spotlight emerging talent aged 17 and 18. These tournaments, held together for the first time, mark a historic moment for Sri Lankan boxing.”

The Clifford Cup adheres to IBA rules and spans 13 Men’s and 12 Women’s weight categories, offering a platform for Sri Lanka’s top talent aged 19 to 40 years. Past medallists from major tournaments are eligible while novice boxers are excluded.

In the 93rd edition, the Army Men’s Team and the Air Force Women’s Team dominated, with standout performances from H. M. L. P. Jayawardana (Army) and K. K. I. T. Perera (Air Force), who were named Best Boxers.

Held alongside the Clifford Cup, the Youth Boxing Championship for the General Jagath Jayasuriya Trophy is open to 17 and 18-year-olds without prior qualifications. This ensures a diverse representation of emerging talent.

The Technical Meeting and the draw will be held on December 17 at Sahas Uyana.

The combination of elite and youth tournaments under one roof, coupled with live broadcasts, makes this event a landmark in Sri Lankan boxing.