Provisional programmes are now available for the remaining days of boxing of the 2025 National Senior Cadet Championships.
Boxer Advisory
The withdrawal of any boxer must be notified to the National Registrar Stephen Connolly, phone: 086 1546746.
As the Cadet championships form a basis for team selection to international competition, please be aware that all entrants must hold a current up to date Irish passport, with at least 6 months remaining to expiry
No international competition kits to be worn by any boxers; boxers may wear club kit, only
Any club making an entry to the championships affirms that the entrant is not a member of any other club, in any jurisdiction.
Any misbehaviour or misuse of social media in a negative manner from members of any club relating to a boxer/coach/official will be referred to the IABA Discipline Officer under the IABA Complaints and Discipline Code, communicated to all clubs on May 17th 2024.
Programmes: May 23rd and 24th
Weigh-ins: Friday: 8am to 9am and 12pm – 1pm and Saturday: 8am to 9am
Anthony Malanaphy (Erne BC, Fermanagh) v Naoise McManus (Drumsna BC, Sligo)
This is the fourth international to take place to date in 2025, following the hosting by Central Council of 3 Youth internationals against Wales, and France/India, in March. These took place in Derry, at the National Stadium, and at Holy Family Boxing Club, Drogheda.
This May 23rd international will feature 8 bouts, and three supporting contests. It is being hosted by Erne Boxing Club, as part of a pilot project. The International will be followed, on the morning of May 24th, by a High Performance Coaching Seminar, led by National Performance Head Coach Zauri Antia
Structure
This is a pilot project, and a collaboration between High Performance Unit and Central Council. The structure involves a club, county board or provincial unit, in this case Erne BC, hosting the International, and making provision for a High Performance Seminar the morning after the International.
The host unit makes all of the local arrangements, including transport, food, board and venue for the International and the HP seminar, and retains all revenue raised on the door, less any attendant expenses. This pilot structure has the capacity to enable the holding of more Internationals, across all age groups and throughout the Association – which will have the net effect of increasing development opportunities for boxers and the staging of high quality boxing events in areas other than Dublin.
Following review of this pilot structure, Central Council may elect to make host bidding available to all club, county board and provincial units, subject to certain criteria.
Tickets
Tickets are limited to 250 and available through Erne Boxing Club or The Westville Hotel, Enniskillen, BT74 6HR. Please contact Greg Copeland on +44 7516 368421
Tickets are priced at £25 for adults & £15 for children aged under 16 . All IABA members get 20% discount price of £20 for adults & £10 for children under 16
High Performance Coaching Seminar
A High Performance Coaching Seminar will take place from 10am on the morning following the Ireland V Austria International, May 24th.
It will begin at 10am and will led by National Performance Head Coach Zauri Antia and HP Coaches, focusing on practical fundamentals skills.
The seminar is open to all members of succesfully affiliated clubs, but places are limited to 40.
Schedule
May 22nd: Team Austria arrives
May 23rd: Ireland v Austria Elite International: 7pm-11.30pm in The Westville Hotel, Enniskillen, BT74 6HR
May 24th: High Performance Coaching Seminar: From 10am, in Castlepark Leisure Centre, Lisnaskea, BT92 0JJ
May 24th: Sparring Session, 1pm-3pm at Erne Boxing Clubs, Lisnaskea
Entry to the 2025 National Elite Competition close today.
The competition is being held at World Boxing weights and will be a factor in selecting the Team Ireland team to contest the World Boxing World Championships in Liverpool, September 4th to 14th.
Venue: Girdwood Community Hub, 10 Girdwood Avenue, Belfast, Antrim, BT14 6EG Dates: June 1st to 6th, dependent upon entries Entries: A non–refundable entry fee of €20 applies, including in the event of a boxer withdrawal. Online entry, via the Blocworx portal, is open until 5pm sharp, on Friday, May 23rd. All fees must be paid by 5pm on May 23rd. Only boxers for whom entries have been completed and entry fees have been received will be allowed to box.
This event is not an Elite Championships. This Elite Competition is taking place in consideration of selection for the World Boxing World Championships, taking September 4-14, 2025. Given the time available for preparation and selection of athletes to contest the World Boxing World Championships, entry to this Elite Competition is considered an explicit statement by the boxer of their injury-free status, their fitness to compete and their preparedness to compete. It is on that basis that all entrants to the competition will be required to compete in order to be considered for selection for the World Boxing World Championships.
All competitors must sign and return the Declaration on page 4 of this circular to performance@iaba.ie and secretary@iaba.ie by close of entry in order to be considered for selection
Affiliated clubs wishing to enter boxers into the competition must log- in to their Blocworx portal, using their unique username and password. Clubs who have not retained their username or password following the completion of their affiliation for the 2024/2025 season can contact IABA staff, Sally Ann Kinch sally@iaba.ie or Ciara Plunkett, ciara@iaba.ie
Draw: Tuesday, May 27th, National Stadium Dublin. Only boxers entered through the Blocworx portal for whom fees are fully paid will be included in the draw.
Membership & Eligibility All clubs are on notice of IABA Rule 6.5.i: “A club shall not include in its list of members the name of any person who is a member of any other club unless dual membership has been specially authorised by the IABA”; Accordingly, any club making an entry to the 2025 National Elite Competition affirms that the entrant is not a member of any other club, in any jurisdiction Sport nationality eligibility is outlined in World Boxing’s Competition Rules, 2.3 & 2.4 In addition: 5.1.3. National Federations will ensure that their Boxers compete in World Boxing Competitions under the correct Sport Nationality, in accordance with these Rules. 5.1.4. National Federations are responsible to ensure the health, fitness and skill levels of the Boxers and other Team Members are sufficient to participate in World Boxing Competitions
Weigh-in and Medical: Boxers will weigh daily on the days they box. Boxing Record books will be presented by the boxer at their initial weigh-in. Weigh-in Times: 8:00 to 9:00am
Boxing: Times will be contingent on entries and shall be announced after the draw.
Duration: Duration of rounds: Men & Women 3 x 3 Minutes Age Requirements: Boxers born 1985 to 2006, inclusive.
Non-Pregnancy Declarations forms must be signed by the boxer Gumshields: Red/orange/pink or variations of these colours are not allowed. Hair Must be tied back, and swimming hats or hairnets should be worn under the headgear for boxers with long hair. Anti-Doping: Boxers must provide details of any medication they are taking or have taken in the preceding 4 weeks. Anti-Doping may be carried out at any stage of the competition. Attention is called to the stipulation in the IABA Rule book that each boxer presented by his/her club shall be fit to box. This is the responsibility of the club. President Anthony Donnolly, Vice President Eugene Duffy, Hon Secretary Tara Mari, Hon Treasurer Larry Morrison, Hon Registrar Stephen Connolly Coach Registration: via secretary@iaba.ie Only registered coaches will be allowed to enter the field of play and/or changing rooms. Coach registration will be cross-checked against stated qualifications and Garda Vetting/Access NI checks. Any registered coaches who do not have current Garda Vetting/Access NI checks will not be permitted to sit at corner and/or to enter the changing rooms. Fundamental coaches will be permitted to do No. 2. Attire: Coaches must wear tracksuits and runners in their corners at all sessions and set a high standard of hygiene. No shorts, caps or hats are allowed. Boxers may not wear international kit – boxers may wear club kit, only.
As the 2025 National Elite Competition form is a factor for team selection for international competition, all entrants must hold a current up to date Irish passport, with at least 6 months remaining to expiry. Please note that boxers born in Northern Ireland may choose to identify themselves as Irish or British or both in accordance with the provisions of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (more commonly known as the Good Friday Agreement).
Any misbehaviour or misuse of social media in a negative manner from members of any club relating to a boxer/coach/official will be referred to the IABA Discipline Officer under the IABA Complaints and Discipline Code, communicated to all clubs on May 17th 2024.
N.B. It is a condition of entry that all boxers and their clubs have signed and submitted the Members Acknowledgement Form and it is the responsibility of the entering unit that this stipulation is complied with.
As this is a Competition and not a Championship, boxer entered are still eligible to Box as an Intermediate Boxer. Sportsmanship: All decisions must be accepted in a sporting manner. Any complaints must be addressed to the Chief Official, National Registrar Mr. Stephen Connolly. Please show respect to all Ringside Officials
The Irish Athletic Boxing Association is delighted to welcome Gary Stewart as CEO, following a highly competitive recruitment process managed by Ascension Recruitment on behalf of IABA.
Gary is an experienced NBG leader, joining IABA from IABA from Volleyball Ireland. Under his leadership, Volleyball Ireland has experienced significant positive change, including notable revenue increases, a successful re-brand, successive year-on-year growth in member numbers and becoming the first sports body to win the Carmichael Annual Report Good Governance Award. Before joining Volleyball Ireland, Gary was a Sports Programme Manager with Sport Ireland.
Gary Stewart says “It’s a great honour to join IABA, and Ireland’s most successful Olympic sport. There no other sport that positively impacts society and communities in the away that Boxing does – highlighting, supporting and growing that impact is a very exciting prospect. I’m looking forward to working with dedicated staff, Central Council and clubs to continue the great work that goes on day-in-day-out in every facet of the Association. I’m grateful to Niall and the board for giving me this opportunity at a pivotal time in the life of Irish Boxing. I can’t wait to get started.”
IABA is in the midst of a period of positive change and growth, which includes securing Irish boxing’s Olympic future by joining the IOC-affiliated World Boxing following a vote of members and the appointment in April of Jon Mackey as National Performance Director.
Chair of IABA’s Board of Directors, Niall O’Carroll, says “Gary’s appointment is another exciting step in the development of Irish Boxing towards being a gold-standard NGB, in governance, sporting, participation and commercial terms. IABA is ripe for growth in Gary’s key expertise areas of brand, marketing and strategic planning. His previous experience, as Sports Programme Manager at Sport Ireland National Sports Campus, ensures Gary has first-hand knowledge of the challenges and opportunities for clubs at a grassroots level, and a keen sense of how to scale participation across all areas of Irish boxing. I, the IABA’s Board of Directors and the IABA’s Central Council led by President Anto Donnelly, are very much looking forward to working with Gary to ensure the very brightest future for our sport.”
The Board of Directors of IABA extends its thanks to Chief Financial Officer, John Nangle, who has served as Interim CEO since September of 2022. John has guided the Association through periods of flux and challenge. During his tenure, IABA launched its 2024-2028 strategic plan, “In Your Corner”, engaged in reform of the electoral process, constitutional reform, secured agreement from clubs on dual International Federation membership and expansion of the Board of Directors. Niall says “John’s interim leadership of IABA ensured much-needed stability, and contributed to laying the foundation for the progressive path the Association is now on. The Board and I are grateful to John for his leadership during a challenging period.”
The withdrawal of any boxer must be notified to the National Registrar Stephen Connolly, phone: 086 1546746.
As the Cadet championships form a basis for team selection to international competition, please be aware that all entrants must hold a current up to date Irish passport, with at least 6 months remaining to expiry
No international competition kits to be worn by any boxers; boxers may wear club kit, only
Any club making an entry to the championships affirms that the entrant is not a member of any other club, in any jurisdiction.
Any misbehaviour or misuse of social media in a negative manner from members of any club relating to a boxer/coach/official will be referred to the IABA Discipline Officer under the IABA Complaints and Discipline Code, communicated to all clubs on May 17th 2024.
Programmes: May 23rd and 24th
Weigh-ins: Friday: 8am to 9am and 12pm – 1pm and Saturday: 8am to 9am
