Confusion reigns as Clifford Cup boxing starts

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.

- ByALLAAM OUSMAN

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.