Smithfield Boxing Club’s international Open Class tournament, Smithfield Boxfest 2020, will not take place, as scheduled, this October because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The tournament, which has attracted top quality competitors from Ukraine, Russia, Australia, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Poland, England, Italy and across Ireland, was due to enter its 8th year.
Smithfield Boxing Club Head Coach, Igor Khmil, said: “Mindful of the fact that these are extraordinary times, globally, and that Smithfield Boxfest is an international tournament, we feel that we have no option but to cancel this year’s competition.”
“Whilst this is an enormously regrettable decision for us as a club and for our organising committee we hope it will have the knock-on effect of helping to free-up the county, provincial and national calendars when competitions resume, easing pressure, somewhat, on boxers, coaches and officials.”
He added: “It seems, to us, to be in the best interests of Irish boxing to do so, and to communicate this decision at the earliest possible opportunity, to assist in re-scheduling of existing and remaining tournaments”
Ciara Plunkett, SBC Secretary, said: “We had 7 competitor nations and over 50 teams at last year’s tournament, and we remain grateful to each and every one of the officials, and our own club volunteers, who make holding a competition such as ours possible. We are looking forward to continuing to build Smithfield Boxfest’s international reputation as an Open Class tournament. and will now re-focus for 2021”
Smithfield Boxfest, 2021, is now, provisionally, scheduled for September 30th to October 3rd.