A new Box Cup is coming to the North East of England. The Angel of the North Box Cup will take place at the Rainton Meadows arena from May 28-29. Clubs are encouraged to register their entries now. With four places available per weight category, it’s advisable to sign up early to avoid disappointment. Apply here: http://jabforms.com/AngelOfTheNorthBoxCup2022.
Organised by the Birtley club, it will be a big event with categories for Schools and Schools Development, Junior and Junior Development, Youths and Seniors all for male and female boxers. Everyone will get a medal. The children’s age groups will box during the day and then the venue will reopen older age group boxing in the evening, staged like a pro show with big screens, lights and walk outs and alcohol only being served during those late sessions.
“We want to make it family friendly for the day time and then in the night let the lads and lasses come in and have their little bit of glory,” said Birtley’s Graeme Rutherford. “Hopefully it’ll be like each everybody’s mini Olympics. That’s what we want.”
It’s also an opportunity for boxers who missed out on getting bouts due to pandemic restrictions to catch up. Competitors from the North East’s thriving boxing scene get a big tournament in their region but boxers from across the country and overseas are encouraged to enter.
“It’s something we’ve been wanting to do for a while,” said Rutherford, thanking Steven Freeman, one of the volunteers at the Birtley club, Laura Sargeant, Gary Robson and Paul Bainbridge from the Tyne, Tees and Wear Association as well as the arena and others for their help and support.
“It’s a first class venue, the presentation of the event will be first class and it’ll be special for the boxers,” he said. “It’ll be something they remember for the rest of their lives.”