Action from a previous Layton Cup Boxing Meet 

By Susil Premalal

The Boxing Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) announced the 2024 Layton Cup Boxing Tournament which will be held from October 1 to 5.

This event will take place at two venues, starting with the preliminary rounds at the Royal MAS Arena in Colombo from October 1 to 3, followed by the semi-finals and finals at Browns Beach in Negombo on October 4 and 5.

This will be the first time the tournament is held in Negombo.

According to BASL President Anuruddha Bandara, the Layton Cup 2024 will play a crucial role in selecting boxers for the national squad.

The tournament will adhere to the International Boxing Association (IBA) rules, as updated on March 3, 2024, and will include various weight categories for both Men and Women.
Each bout will consist of three rounds, each lasting three minutes, with a one-minute break between rounds.

The selection committee of the BASL will carefully assess the performances of all participants to identify the most promising boxers who will be invited to join the national training pool.

These selected athletes will benefit from comprehensive residential training programmes and will have the opportunity to train internationally and compete in global tournaments.

Additionally, boxers who show exceptional promise may be sent for specialised training in Jordan, according to the BASL President. The tournament is open to Men and Women boxers aged 19 to 40, with eligibility determined by previous accomplishments in national boxing tournaments.

This tournament is exclusively open to gold and silver medal winners of the Novice Boxing Tournament, Intermediate Boxing Tournament, Stubbs Shield Championships, gold medal winners of the Junior National Boxing Championships, and all boxers who have participated in the Layton Cup, Clifford Cup, and National Championships previously.

However, Women boxers with any medal from the Novices, Intermediate or Boxing Tournaments organised by the Schools Boxing Association are eligible to compete in this event, provided they meet the age criteria. Novice boxers are not permitted to take part in this tournament.

Entries must be submitted via email to the BASL by September 20, 2024. The entry fee for each competitor is Rs. 2,000 and clubs must ensure their annual subscription fee of Rs. 6,000 is paid by September 30, 2024.

The winners, along with the first and second runners-up will be awarded medals and certificates with special recognition given to the best boxer in both the Men’s and Women’s categories.
However, boxers who are disqualified will not receive any awards.

Before the tournament, a Sports Entry Check will be conducted on September 30 from 6.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. at the Royal MAS Arena in Colombo, followed by the Technical Meeting and draw from 7.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. on the same day.