SEPTEMBER 17th, 2021: Competitive boxing returns to the National Stadium for the first time
in over eighteen months this Friday 17th of September with the return of the IABA’s blue
ribbon event – the National Elite Championships. After a trying and turbulent period for boxing
and our members, this news is a most welcome step towards a full return to Ireland’s most
successful Olympic sport.
There is an undeniable scene of delight and hope radiating throughout the organisation in
anticipation of this year’s event. While this year’s Elite Championships will not feature
spectators, the IABA are delighted to announce that our television partner TG4 will be
covering all contests, including the preliminary bouts. TG4 will be live streaming all
preliminary bouts on their YouTube channel which will be available free of charge. Links to
the preliminary contests will be made available to our members on the IABA website and
social media platforms. Elite finals night will be shown live on TG4 on Saturday the 2nd of
October. This year’s Championships will feature a number of Ireland’s Olympic heroes, along
with some of the sports up and coming future stars.
CEO Fergal Carruth said ” After the hugely successful summer for our team at the Tokyo
Olympic Games, it is fantastic to be once again able to host top level Elite boxing in the home
of Irish boxing, our own National stadium. The IABA are delighted to be in a position to stage
this indoor event and afford many of our upcoming hopefuls for future Olympic Games an
opportunity to get back into long anticipated competitive action. The last eighteen months
has been particularly difficult on these young emerging athletes who will feature in this
competition and indeed our boxing clubs as a whole. We are very thankful to our Central
council, staff team and Return to Sport Expert Group for their assistance in the planning of
this event, our long-term sponsors O’Neill’s for their continued support and to TG4 for once
again broadcasting the event both by live stream and television”.
On another positive note, the IABA are thrilled to announce that from next Monday 20th of
September, affiliated clubs who have successfully completed the Covid-19 return to boxing
process, can return to full contact indoor training. Updated protocols will be made available
to members through the IABA’s website this Friday 17th