Some of the world’s finest amateur boxers are included in a glittering line up of top names competing in Sheffield this weekend.
Two double World Champions, one of whom is also an Olympic gold medalist, an Olympic silver medalist and three European medal holders are among the stars set to feature.
They will be taking part in the Four Nations challenge that will see Great Britain’s best take on the rest of the world - China, Kazakhstan and France.
The array of top boxers includes China’s Olympic and twice World Champion Shiming Zou (48kg), Olympic Silver medalist Zhilei Zhang (91+kg) and Kazakhstan’s double World Champion Serik Sapiyev (69kg).
One of the three European medal holders is GB’s bantamweight Luke Campbell (54kg), from Hull.
The event will take place of at the English Institute of Sport – Sheffield (EIS Sheffield), where the GB men’s and women’s Podium Squads train.
GB Boxing’s Performance Director Rob McCracken, said: “This is a unique opportunity for the sporting public in South Yorkshire to see GB’s future Olympic boxing stars as well as medalists from the last Games such as Shiming Zou and Zhilei Zhang.
“China, Kazakhstan and France are some of the biggest boxing nations. Watching them in training at EIS Sheffield this week you can see the quality of their squads so the Four Nations tournament will be a good test for our lads, who are also in great form.”
The Four Nations Challenge follows the success of the men’s squad at the European Championships in Moscow, where they won five medals, their best showing for over 50 years.
Paul Hudson, general manager of EIS Sheffield, which is operated by Sheffield International Venues (SIV), said: “This is the next generation of GB boxing stars and with two years to go until the London Games, the event is an early opportunity to see those targeting medals at 2012.
“All the competing nations won multiple boxing medals at the Beijing Olympics, so the standard of competition is set to be tough, which is why we are encouraging local people to turn out and support the Sheffield-based GB squad.”
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. It will attract scores of boxers and their coaching teams from across the world to the city.
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
