| England Boxing National Amateur Championships (previously the ABA Championships) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Frequency | annual |
| Country | England |
| Inaugurated | 1881 |
| Organised by | England Boxing |
TheEngland Boxing National Amateur Championships previously known as theABA Championships is the premier amateur boxing tournament in Great Britain, hosted annually byEngland Boxing. The Championships are 'open' class: anyboxer who is registered with a club registered withEngland Boxing (aged over 17 years by the 1 October) can enter.[1][2][3]
The inaugural Championships were held (over one day) on 18 April 1880 atSt James Hall, London at four weight categories:Featherweight (57 kg),Lightweight (60 kg),Middleweight (75 kg), andHeavyweight (91 kg).[4]1884 saw the introduction of a fifth weight category (Bantamweight, 54 kg). In 1920 three additional weight categories were introduced taking it to 8 weight categories in all. These extra weights were:Flyweight (51 kg),Welterweight (69 kg), andLight heavyweight (81 kg).
In 1920, the London ABA was split into four Divisions to accommodate the number of boxers entering the ABA Championships.[5] The start of Divisional Championships. The following year in 1921 the ABA decided to introduce eliminating rounds and the Country was split into four Regions to assist in identifying a champion. In 1926 the Championships were opened by a Patron of the 'ABA', the Prince of Wales.[6]
In 1971, the 'light flyweight' category (48 kg) was included in the National Championship for the first time.[7] In 1982, the 'super heavyweight category (over 91 kg) was added.[8]Cruiserweight (86 kg) was added in 1998.[9]
By 1994, the ABA Championships became a purely English affair as Scottish and Welsh boxers could no longer compete due to disagreements over rules and regulations.[10]
In 2012/3 the weights were revised, deletinglight middleweight (71 kg) andcruiserweight (86 kg), also increasingwelter weight from 67 kg to 69 kg. So today a total of eleven weight categories are contested. The ABA Champion is automatically selected to represent England in the Four Nations Championship in that year (England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales).[11]
In 2019 the Championships were renamed the England Boxing National Amateur Championships and the 2020 Championships were cancelled due toCOVID-19.[12] In 2022, another re-organisation of the weight categories resulted in the light-middleweight division returning.
The inaugural Championships were held atSt James Hall, London on 18 April 1880. In 1926, the Championships moved to theRoyal Albert Hall London after moving around different venues within the Capital City (St. James Hall,Alexandra Palace,Northampton Institute, Holborn Central Hall,Royal Aquarium,Her Majesty's Theatre,People's Palace and the Holland Park Ring). From 1946 until 1990 the Championships were held at theWembley Arena.
Since 1990 the locations have varied.[1]