Boxing History

Nilmini Jayasighe wins the first ever Women’s International gold medal at the Russian Invitational International Boxing Tournament in Russia.

Moscow Bears vs. Sri Lanka Lions duel is held at the Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo.

Trotman Dailey from Cuba arrives in the country for a brief stint at coaching local boxers. Coach Ramirez Elias Rafeal Rafael follows soon after, taking the reins for 2 years till 2009.

Tanzania vs. Sri Lanka boxing duel is held at the Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo.

Vietnam vs. Sri Lanka Duel Boxing Championship is held at the Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo.

The X South Asian Games is held in Colombo in August 2006. Eight more Sri Lankans qualify as Continental Judges, trained under Donald Munasighe, the President of the Referees & Judges Association. Presently, there are 5 AIBA qualified and 12 FAAB (Contnental) qualified officials in Sri Lanka.

Anusha Kodituwakku wins first ever Asian gold medal for Sri Lanka at the Asian Women’s Championships – Hanoi, Vietnam.

Philippines vs. Sri Lanka boxing duel is held at the Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo.

The Sugathadasa Stadium and the Slimline boxing club hosts the Indian Army in duels, India Army vs. Sri Lanka Army, and Indian Army vs. Sri Lanka.

5 judges and 2 referees from Sri Lanka qualify as Continental Judges.

A Cuban coach is brought in to assist in improving local boxing standards. With the sponsorship of the Ministry of Sports, Cuban Frometa Matos takes over as coach from 2002-2006.

Numerous Olympic solidarity boxing coaching programmes are carried out in Sri Lanka to further skill our coaches. In addition the Boxing Coaches Association under the auspices of the ABA holds many coaching programmes in various parts of the country for both coaches as well as upcoming boxers.

Mr. Herbert Embuldeniya and Mrs. Neiva Embuldeniya return home from Canada after 18 years. Mr. Embuldeniya is a member of the Referees & Judges Commission of the AIBA, and jury member of 3 Olympic Games, 3 Commonwealth Games, 2 Asian Games and 3 South Asian Games. Mrs. Embuldeniya is an AIBA Ex-Co member, and Vice President of the AIBA Women’s Commission.

The country adapts to computer judging, with 3 Sri Lankans qualifying as Asian Judges.

The V South Asian Games is held in Colombo in August.

The 4th Asian Championships is held in Colombo, with the participation of 12 countries.

At the AIBA Congress held in 1967, Ceylon proposes to include the Light Flyweight Category stating that most Asians are built small physically. With the ready endorsement of all Asian Countries the AIBA accepts the proposal, initiating it from January 1968.

Named after Sir Jeffery Layton, the Commander of the Allied Naval Fleet in the Indian Ocean, the Layton Cup is introduced in 1942, the Admiral himself present at the inaugural meet to award the Cup to able Seaman Jenkins of the Royal Navy who was adjudged as the Best Boxer. The Novices and Intermediate meets are introduced as qualifiers, whose winner were permitted to box at major meets.

Sir H L Dowbiggin, the Inspector General of Police, fosters the annual boxing competition between Ceylon and Burma (present Myanmar) Police. American Heavy Weight Champion Gene Tunney witnesses this inter country duel in Colombo, and donates a Challenge Cup to be presented to the Most Scientific boxer. The Police Inter Division annual Contest for Dowbiggin Cup is also inaugurated.

The newly formed Ceylon Schools Boxing Association manned by local school masters takes over school boxing responsibilities from USBAC. Today, over 50 schools compete in the Stubbs Shield Championships.

The Matale District Inter Schools tournament is held for the first time, for the Dowbiggin and Robison Challenge cups. Yet another tournament is launched for bilingual schools of the Western Province, the Stanley Obeysekara Cup.

The Clifford Cup, confined to teams of at least 4 boxers is introduced, and is won by the Ceylon Garrison Artillery.

The first annual Inter – Village Schools Boxing Competition in the Western Province is held for the J P Obeysekara shield, which is won by a school in Aluthgama.

Donald Obeysekara together with L Mac D Robison, Leigh Smith and Newrham, succeeds in persuading the USBAC to open boxing to civilians. The USBAC is dissolved to form the Amateur Boxing Association of Ceylon (ABA). A B Henricus is voted the first Secretary of the ABA, with the Royal Army winning its inaugural National Championships.

Boxing is introduced to rural areas with financial assistance from the Government. While R Halangoda and S V De Alwis start coaching boxing at schools around Matale, a hill city, D Hennessy trains schools around Kegalle and M B Fonseka, schools around Gampaha.

The Scouts Movement also takes up boxing, initiating the annual Inter Troup Tournaments, with the participation of around 60 scouts. The Scouts vs Police Brigade tournament becomes a popular annual fixture.

The YMCA Central Physical Director R Cammack from USA introduces boxing as a playground movement to Colombo playgrounds under the municipality act. Annual Inter playground contests are held with around 70 bouts.

The Police Brigade is formed by the Police Department, consisting of youth from schools assisting local police in their duties. Sergeant E S Salladori trained the brigade boxers.

S C Trail obtains permission from the Colonial Secretary Sir R Edward Stubbs to award a challenge shield in his name annually at an interschool boxing tournament organized by the USBAC.

The late great Cambridge Blue Mr. Donald Obeysekara is appointed as a member of the USBAC. He starts coaching at his Alma Mater Royal College, with Henricus coaching Wesley College, R V Routledage and Sgt Major Dobson coaching Trinity College, Johan Gaye coaching St. Anthony’s College, while C G Pigford and L Mac D Robinson coached at the former Police Training School.

Boxing is introduced to Sri Lanka, then Ceylon, during British Colonial Rule. It becomes popular amongst the three armed forces, forming the United Services Boxing Association of Ceylon (USBAC). Some of the famous boxers were A B Henricus, L V Jayaweera, A D V Perera, Albert Perera and K Edwin.