The history of Layton Cup boxing meet draws back to the year 1942 when top-ranking boxers, particularly in the three Armed Forces fought for major honors.
Today, after 71 years the champions are ready to battle again at the Sugathadasa indoor stadium from the 17th to 21th July 2013 as the boxing association of Sri Lanka hosts the Layton cup 2013 for the 71th consecutive year.This year the meet will be more intense and competitive for the champions from around the island will participate and compete to be crowned as the champion.
This meet will be open to winners and runner up of Novice, Intermediate, Stubbs Shield and winners of Junior Nationals Championships. In addition to this any boxer who previously took part in any Major meets conducted by ABA of Sri Lanka is qualified to take part in this meet. The qualified boxers should be over 19 years and below 40 years of age to compete at this meet. But this year due to the age barrier set by the AIBA the school boxers will not be permitted to participate because of which the number of participants are limited.
The men bout will be 3 rounds of 3 minutes each and the women bouts will be 4 rounds of 2 minutes each with 1 minute rest between each round. As per the approval of the AIBA the Layton cup this year will host the tournament without the aid of the head guards for the first time at a national level tournament. And also as per the International regulations medical team and qualified doctor will be available during the tournament. The preliminary weigh in preceded by the medical examination for the male and female boxers will be held on the 17th July 2013 from 8.00am to 10.00am at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium.
The combat between Saman Silva of Slimline vs. MPS Karunarathna and HS Dhanushka under light weigth category will be a breath taking event at the tournament. The young national level champion MM Prabashwara of Slimline will compete against Amila Nuwan of Unichela Panadura who is the bronze medalist of the Benazir Bhooto International boxing championship which was held in Pakistan in 2011, will be a remarkable event to witness. This year the tournament is comprised of more intense battles as MYM Dilshan of Air Force, the last year national champion who represented Sri Lanka at the Elite boxing championship held in Jordan last month will face sfiff resistance from Army, Navy and Slimline boxers in the Light Welter Weight category.
WL Sandun of the Air Force will battle against ARBE Thilakarathne of Army in the Super Heavey Weight clas.. Novices and Intermediate champion and up coming boxers IBP Rathnadivakara of Slimline will be a great threat to the former National Level boxers. The former Clifford cup cup champion RGS Kumarasinghe will be battling against WSK Fernando of Slimline who will also exhibited outstanding performance in this tournament. Sithari Sandareka of MAS southern will battle against l Udayangani who will also represent MAS Southern. This will be an intense battle in the women’s category. Representing the Police Shiromali who owns the bronze medal at the Asian Women Boxing Championship held in Mongolia last year will enter the ring against A A Nilanthi the last year crowned champion of MAS southern and GHTN Dharmasena of MAS Southern.
Mr. KV Dharmadasa the former President of ABA, Former Vice president of the boxing Referees & Judges Association and a veteran International boxer, who has legendary story in the history of boxing, will grace the Layton cup as the Chief Guest. The winners, runner ups and 3rd places will receive medals and certificates. The best boxer of the meet will receive the Layton Cup awarded by Admiral Sir Jeffery Layton.
