OTTAWA, March 26, 2012 /CNW/ - Canada will host the best amateur female boxers from the Americas and 2012 Summer Olympic hopefuls from April 4-7, 2012. Sixty-five boxers from 15 countries will compete in ten weight categories during the 2012 American Boxing Confederation (AMBC) Women's Elite Continental Championships.
This is the first time the Canadian Amateur Boxing Association (Boxing Canada) will host the championships. The tournament takes place at the NAV Centre, 1950 Montreal Road in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada and will be streamed live at www.gfl.tv.
Almost 150 athletes, coaches and officials will show the Canadian public why 2012 is the year of female boxers. This is expected to be the largest of the seven Continentals ever held. The 2012 London Olympics will mark the first time female boxers will compete at an Olympic Games.
"This tournament is a preview to the Olympics. Fans will see some of these boxers in the Olympic Games," said AMBC Women's Commission President, Dr. Christy Halbert who was instrumental in getting women's boxing into the 2012 London Olympics.
The AMBC's President, Dr Domingo Solano, declared that " for its 40 affiliate federations, this is only the beginning of the future for women's boxing in the Americas".
Boxing Canada's ten-member National Team will be competing including three-time World Champion, Pan American and Continental Champion Mary Spencer, along with Pan American and three-time Continental Champion Mandy Bujold.
"Boxing Canada is pleased to play host to this tournament for the first-time in our organization's history," said the President of Boxing Canada Pat Fiacco. "We look forward to welcoming the Americas to Cornwall and an intense competition full of world-class talent."
Bouts will take place nightly beginning at 7 p.m, with the finals on April 7 at 7 p.m. Tickets are available from Boxing Canada at 1-613-238-7700 or Champs Eastside Boxing Club at 1-613-938-3281. Cost is $25 for the week or $15 for a daily pass.
The Continental Championships will feature a strong field of boxers from the Americas vying for spots to the 2012 London Olympics at the Association Internationale de Boxe Amateure (AIBA) Women's World Championships from May 9-20, 2012 in Qinhuangdao, China. Twenty-four spots in three weight categories will be contested.
Please note media accreditation is required for entry into the Continental Championships.
Media inquiries: Francis Beaulieu, Project Manager, Boxing Canada
1-613-866-3442 / [email protected] / 1-613-238-7700, ext. 221
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