Confusion reigns as Clifford Cup boxing starts

By Allaam Ousman

The 95th Clifford Cup Boxing Championships, scheduled to be held from October 15 to 19 at the Royal MAS Arena, Colombo 07, will mark a new chapter in Sri Lankan boxing — but also one filled with uncertainty. 

For the first time, the prestigious event will be conducted under World Boxing (WB) regulations, even as the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has yet to receive formal approval for dual membership from the sport’s two rival global bodies: World Boxing and the International Boxing Association (IBA).

This has created widespread confusion among local officials, coaches, and athletes, as they struggle to adapt to differing rulebooks, age limits, and weight classifications while major international tournaments continue to be governed by IBA.

The biggest change is the adoption of World Boxing’s 10-weight category system for both men and women, replacing the IBA’s structure of 13 men’s and 12 women’s divisions. The 5kg increments between categories could impact several established boxers who have built their careers around IBA’s long-standing divisions.

Many local referees and judges, accustomed to IBA’s technical standards, have also admitted limited familiarity with WB’s revised rules. “The change is significant — even small adjustments in scoring or safety protocols can affect the outcome of bouts,” said one senior official.

While BASL’s initiative to align with World Boxing is seen as an attempt to secure Sri Lanka’s place in the global amateur boxing community amid IBA’s Olympic suspension, the dual membership status remains pending. World Boxing, formed in 2023 as a breakaway entity to ensure Olympic recognition, requires compliance with specific governance and anti-corruption standards.

If the Clifford Cup is conducted under World Boxing standards, its results may not directly correspond to IBA’s classification system — complicating selection for the Dubai event.

Sri Lanka’s boxers are now facing a dilemma that goes beyond the ring. With one side promising Olympic inclusion (World Boxing) and the other offering lucrative prize money and established global structure (IBA), the local federation

must soon decide which path to follow.
The Army team won the men’s Clifford Cup boxing championship in 2024, while the Air Force team won the women’s

championship. 
The Army dominated the men’s competition by winning nine gold medals, while the Air Force women’s team secured the women’s title with five gold medals.