Layton Cup in October
The Boxing Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) is excited to announce the Layton Cup Boxing Tournament 2024, which will be held from October 1 to 5. This highly anticipated 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. Notably, this will be the first time the tournament is held in Negombo.
According to BASL President Anuruddha Shanaka 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, 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 male and female 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, Intermediate and Stubbs Shield, gold medal winners of the Junior Nationals, 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 can be submitted via email to the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka by September 20. 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.