Introduced by the Amateur Boxing Association of Sri-Lanka (ABA) in 1927 the Clifford Cup was confined to team participation. A team had to comprise of at least of 4 competitors.
In the inaugural year Clifford Cup Championship was won by Ceylon Garrison Artillery. In addition to the National Championships and Layton cup, the Clifford cup was considered as one of the major boxing tournament in Sri Lanka.
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 International rule and regulations medical team and qualified doctors 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 25th July 2013 from 8.00am to 10.00am at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium while the medical and weighin from 26th to 29th August 2013 will be held from 8.00 to 9.00am at the same venue.
This year the Clifford cup will be held in grandeur at the Sugathadasa Indoor stadium for the 86th consecutive time from the 25th – 29th August 2013 with immense participation of young pugilists who are striving to compete at the AIBA World Championships 2013 in Almaty, Kazksthan. Champions from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, Slimline ,Linea Clothing , MAS Southern, Silueta, Unichela, Vidyartha and Vidyarathana BC, MDS, Casualline, Sivali BC, Army Red, Navy Red Knot and Air Force Kafir will vie for the coveted Clifford Cup once again.
The prestigious Clifford Cup tournament has been extended for five days, for the second time in order to accommodate a large number of boxers to participate. Previously most major boxing meets were conducted over a period of four days at the most. This year, there will be over 125 male and over 50 female pugilists representing over 20 clubs.
Winners and runners up of ABA Novices meet, Intermediate, Stubbs Shield Boxing Championship and winners of the ABA Junior National Boxing meet are qualified to compete in this Championship. The toughest competitions will be between Army, Navy, Slimline, Linea Clothing, MAS Southern, Air Force and Police in all weight categories ensuring a thrilling experience in the sport of boxing in Sri Lanka.
M Dilshan of Sri Lanka Air Force was crowned as the best boxer in 2012. Men’s Best Loser was W.A.C.I. Perera of Sri Lankan Army. The Best Boxer Women’s award was won by 2010 Sri Lanka representative at the Asian Games Niranjala Senanayake of MAS Southern BC and Best Loser Women’s award was won by H.S. Priyadarshani of Army.
For the first time in the history of the tournament, in 2012 the men’s and women’s championship was won by MAS Holdings subsidiaries – Slimline SC and MAS Southern BC. In Slimline SC’s last 12 year boxing history, it made a record by securing 6 weight categories out of 7 in the finals out of the 10 men’s weight Classes. While the MAS Southern Boxing Club proceeded to win the women’s championships by winning 6 weight classes in 10 weights class category. This year the elimination of headgears will be a unique feature, growing excitement and competition.
The farther of all referee judges presently officiating in Sri Lanka and veteran boxer, Mr. Donald Munasinghe, the most senior member of the executive committee of Boxing Assocoatin will grace Clifford Cup 2013 as the chief guest. He was a distingush boxing Juror – From 1995 to 2008 and the Chairman of the Boxing Jury from the year 2007 – 2008.
