Welcome To South Yorkshire Sport

The Amateur Boxing Association of England (ABAE) is the national governing body of the sport of Amateur Boxing in England. There are more than 700 ABAE-affiliated amateur boxing clubs in England, and more than 12,000 competing amateur boxers (to compete you need to reach the standard required by your club, then pass a strict medical exam, and pass another medical each time you box competitively).

The female side of the sport is flourishing, and South Yorkshire has its first national senior female champion in Sharon Holford of Aspire ABC.

There are many tens of thousands of people who take part in the sport on a recreational level without actually competing. They attend ABAE-affiliated clubs, after-school clubs, youth clubs etc. It is a great way to keep fit and have fun Amateur boxing is the branch of the sport which is included in the Olympic Games.

Boxers can compete between the ages of 11 and 34-years of age.

Where did Amateur Boxing start?Boxing goes back as far as the Ancient Greeks, but modern amateur boxing can be said to have started in England in 1880, before spreading throughout the world.

What kit do I need?To start with you need very little kit. Just regular sports kit will do. Clubs have the equipment you will need initially, and if you decide to take the sport further you can buy decent quality gloves, boots, gumshield, headguard etc at reasonable prices. Amateur boxing does not require a large financial outlay.

Key Priorities for Boxing in South Yorkshire

• Increase participation
• Utilising the FE/HE sector to increase and sustain participation & progress individuals
• Bringing new adults into the sport and keeping them
• Increasing/sustaining participation; poor, disadvantaged & ethnic minority communities
• Increasing participation among and retaining women and girls
• Increasing participation for people with disabilities
• Developing pathways and competitive opportunity
• Development of coaching, coaches and officials
• Developing and supporting volunteers
• Clubs and club development