42nd L.V. Jayaweera Schools Boxing Meet From May 7
The 42nd L.V. Jayaweera Memorial Inter-School Boxing Championship conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Boxing Association (SLSBA) with the blessings of the Amateur Boxing Association of Sri Lanka and hosted by the Old Boys Association of Mahanama Colombo wil be held from May 7 to 11 at the Mahanama boxing ring.
This was revealed at a press briefing held at the Mahanama OBA Auditorium by Prasanna Upashantha the principal of Mahanama who is also the president of the SLSBA. The tournament sponsored by MAS Holdings will see over 400 schoolboys from 86 schools around the island participating which includes some boxers from the northern district taking part for the first time.
The first L.V. Jayaweera boxing meet was held in 1972 which was mooted by N. Thambimuttu the master-in-charge of St. Michael’s College Kollupitiya. Thambimuttu’s idea of conducting a boxing meet for newcomers bored fruit with Fredrick Obeysekera donating a trophy in memory of prominent boxer L.V. Jayaweera. Jayaweera was a top boxer in the 1920 and 30’s who represented the Ceylon Garrison Army at national boxing meets who also a recipient of the best boxer’s award. He later went onto coach the Carey boxing team.
The champions at the inaugural L.V. Jayaweera boxing meet held in 1972 in Colombo was Mahiyangana MV who won their first major trophy. Last year Seevali MMV Ratnapura and Vidyartha Kandy were adjudged joint champions held at Nawalapitiya.
The boxing meet will be conducted in the age groups of 13-14 years (schholboys), 15-16 years (junior boys) and 17-18 years (youth) categories. The weight categories will be 33-35, 35-37, 37-39, 39-41, 41-43 and 43-45kgs in the 13-14 years group.
The schoolboy weight categories will be 44-46, 46-48, 48-50, 50-52 and 52-54kgs while the youth weight categories will be 46-49, 49-52, 52-56, 56-60 and 60-64kgs. The schoolboys and juniors bouts will comprise of three rounds of one minute each while the youth bouts will comprise three rounds of two minutes each. The general weigh-in preceded by the medical examination will be held on May 7 between 7.00am and 10.00am at the main hall of Mahanama College and the daily weigh-in and medical examination on May 8, 9, 10 and 11 will be conducted between 8.00am and 9.00am at the same venue.
All winners, runners-up and the semi-finalists will receive medals and certificates with special awards for the best boxer and loser in the three categories being offered. The team that wins the most number of gold, silver and bronze medals will receive the L.V. Jayaweera memorial challenge trophy.