GB Boxers set for Sheffield Four Nations Challenge.
A squad of Sheffield-based GB boxers will be hoping to make home advantage count when they take on the rest of the world at an international tournament in the city.
GB Boxing will face the national teams of France, China and Kazakhstan at the Four Nations Challenge amateur boxing tournament next month.
The action will take place from August 7-8 at the English Institute of Sport – Sheffield (EIS Sheffield), where the GB men’s and women’s Podium Squads are based.
It follows the success of the men’s squad at the recent European Championships in Moscow, where they won five medals, their best showing for over 50 years.
Khalid Yafai, Iain Weaver and Tom Stalker are amongst the European medallists who could compete at the Four Nations event, although the finals squads will be confirmed later this month.
GB Boxing’s Performance Director Rob McCracken, said: “The lads performed superbly in Moscow and this tournament will provide us with another good marker of progress ahead of 2012. All the competing nations won multiple boxing medals at the Beijing Olympics, so the competition is set to be tough, but our squad can only benefit from further international experience. It is important we keep moving forward, testing the boxers so we continue going from strength to strength.”
The event was brought to Sheffield by the British Amateur Boxing Association (BABA) with support from Sheffield City Council's Major Sports Events Unit, working in partnership with BABA and UK Sport to bring multi-national training camps to the City.
It will attract scores of boxers and their coaching teams from across the world to Sheffield, maximising economic impact for the city.
Paul Hudson, General Manager of EIS Sheffield, which is operated by Sheffield International Venues (SIV), said: “We are delighted to be hosting this high profile international competition and showcasing the GB Squad’s fantastic set up at EIS Sheffield to the national squads from France, China and Kazakhstan.
“The GB lads have been in great form and it will be fantastic to see them compete on home soil. Sheffield has a proud association with boxing and with the GB squad being based here at EIS Sheffield our facilities will be familiar to many of the boxers providing them with an advantage over the other nations.”
The semi finals are on Saturday, August 7, followed by the finals on Sunday, August 8. Doors open at 1pm and the boxing takes place on both days at 2pm.
Tickets are priced at £15 per day (ringside) and £10 per day (outer ring/balcony). Weekend tickets are available for £25 and £17.
For more information or to buy your tickets call 0114 2565656 or online at www.arenaticketshop.co.uk
