England Boxing, known until 2013 as the Amateur Boxing Association of England,[1] is the only governing body of amateur boxing clubs in England. There are separate organisations for Scotland and Wales with boxing in Northern Ireland being organised on an All-Ireland basis. The Association was founded in 1880.[2]

England Boxing
SportAmateur boxing
Founded1880
Official website
www.englandboxing.org
England
From left to right are: Hayes the trainer; Reuben Charles Warnes; W. W. Allen; secretary E. T. Calver of the Amateur Boxing Association of England; Alfred Spenceley; Frank Parks; Erskine; and Murray the trainer on May 13, 1911, in the United States on a tour of exhibition matches

Regions

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  • Army[3]
  • East Midlands[4]
  • Eastern Counties.
  • Home Counties which is made up of Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.[5]
  • London Boxing, established 2016[6]
  • Merseyside & Cheshire
  • Midlands[7]
  • Northwest[8]
  • Police[9]
  • RAF[10]
  • Royal Navy
  • Southern Counties which is made up of Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey

Kent ABA

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The Kent Amateur Boxing Association was established in 1948 at the Royal Star Hotel Maidstone. The original 16 founding clubs that formed the Kent ABA and its constitution were:

  • Orpington ABC[11]
  • Sandwich ABC
  • Ramsgate ABC
  • Margate ABC
  • Maidstone ABC
  • Gravesend ABC
  • Faversham ABC
  • Whitstable ABC
  • Sheerness ABC
  • Dartford ABC
  • Canterbury ABC
  • Tonbridge ABC
  • Tunbridge Wells ABC
  • Aylesford ABC
  • Dover ABC
  • St Mary's ABC in Chatham[12]


Kent ABA Constitution

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The Kent ABA 1948 constitution

CONSTITUTION OF KENT AMATEUR BOXING ASSOCIATION May 2ND 1948 Preamble: We, the representatives from the 16 boxing clubs who attended the first annual general meeting of the Kent Amateur Boxing Association, held at Maidstone under the presidency of Major J. F. Ferguson, Chief Constable of the county, hereby establish the Kent Amateur Boxing Association (KABA) with the aim of promoting and developing amateur boxing in the Kent County region. ARTICLE I: KENT AMATEUR BOXING ASSOCIATION 1. The organisation shall be known as the Kent Amateur Boxing Association (KABA). 2. The purpose of KABA is to foster and advance the sport of amateur boxing within the Kent County region. ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP 1. Membership in KABA is open to all amateur boxing clubs within the Kent County region. 2. The forming clubs mentioned below shall remain affiliated with KABA indefinitely, as long as Kent Amateur Boxing Association exists: They are referred to as Founders. 1. Orpington ABC 2. Sandwich ABC 3. Ramsgate ABC 4. Margate ABC 5. Maidstone ABC 6. Gravesend ABC 7. Faversham ABC 8. Whitstable ABC 9. Sheerness ABC 10. Dartford ABC 11. Canterbury ABC 12. Tonbridge ABC 13. Tunbridge Wells ABC 14. Aylesford ABC 15. Dover ABC 16. St Mary’s ABC Chatham ARTICLE III: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 1. The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the overall management and administration of KABA. 2. The Executive Committee shall consist of the following members: a. President - Major J. F. Ferguson b. Vice-Presidents - Lieutenant Colonel C. D. Sheldon , Colonel H. R. Norman, Mr. E. C. Swain, Mr. W. S. L. Bradley, Rear-Admiral H. Woodhouse, and c. Honorary Medical Officer - Dr. W. R. G. N. Luntz d. Honorary Secretary and Treasurer - Mr. G. A. Pankhurst ( Aylesford ) e. Executive Committee Members - Chief Inspector A. Button, (Kent County Constabulary A.C) Mr. E. C. Swain, Mr. W. G. Nichols, Colonel Boam, Mr. I. Mitchell, Mr. T. Rowley, and Mr. H. Taylor (Orpington & District ABC) ARTICLE IV: DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 1. The President shall preside over all meetings of KABA and provide guidance and leadership. 2. The Vice-Presidents shall support the President and perform any duties assigned by the President. 3. The Honorary Medical Officer shall provide medical assistance and advice as required. 4. The Honorary Secretary and Treasurer shall handle all administrative and financial matters of KABA. 5. The Executive Committee Members shall assist in decision-making and contribute to the development of KABA. ARTICLE V: MEETINGS 1. KABA shall hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) each year, where reports and balance sheets shall be presented. 2. Special meetings may be called by the President or upon written request by at least three forming clubs. 3. A quorum for any meeting shall consist of representatives from at least eight forming clubs. ARTICLE VI: AMENDMENTS 1. This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote at the AGM or a special meeting. 2. Proposed amendments must be submitted in writing at least 30 days prior to the meeting. 3. No amendment to remove clubs can be proposed & those that formed the KABA from this day forth cannot be removed from the association. ARTICLE VII: DISSOLUTION 1. In the event of dissolution, the assets of KABA shall be distributed to amateur boxing clubs within the Kent County region, as determined by the Executive Committee. ARTICLE VIII: SAFETY REGULATIONS 1. KABA shall adhere to the safety regulations adopted by the ABA and internationally for the protection of boxers. 2. Safety regulations for 1948 include a compulsory eight-count and a four-week suspension for boxers knocked out with a blow to the head.

PART 2: CONSTITUTION OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE KENT AMATEUR

BOXING ASSOCIATION (KENT ABA) ARTICLE I: FOUNDING CLUBS AND BOARD REPRESENTATION May 2ND 1948 1. FOUNDING CLUBS: The following 16 clubs are recognized as the founding members of the Kent Amateur Boxing Association (Kent ABA): 2. BOARD OF GOVERNORS: Each founding club shall maintain its status as a founding member and shall hold a permanent position on the Board of Governors of the Kent ABA. This includes the right to representation in all discussions and decisions affecting the association. ARTICLE II: CONTINUITY OF GOVERNANCE 1. DISSOLUTION OF KENT ABA: In the event that the Kent ABA dissolves, the chair and committee of any founding member club shall assume responsibility for the governance and operation of amateur boxing within Kent and its district. 2. LEGACY OF FOUNDING CLUBS: Each founding club that attended the establishment meeting of the Kent ABA on May 2nd, 1948, shall retain their place on the Board of Governors indefinitely, ensuring their continuous influence on the direction of the association. 3. CLOSURE OF FOUNDING CLUBS: Should any founding club cease operations for any reason, the Kent ABA shall retain their place on the Board of Governors until such time as the club reopens. There shall be no time limit imposed on this provision. ARTICLE III: RESPONSIBILITIES OF COACHES AND COMMITTEES 1. ROLE OF COACHES: Harry Taylor of Orpington & District ABA, along with his coaching committee, is recognised for their pivotal role in the governance of the Kent ABA. This document has been shared republished with all other founding members to ensure clarity and cooperation within the association. 2. REOPENING OF CLUBS: If a founding club that is currently part of the Kent ABA reopens at any future date, it shall retain the right to its founding status and representation on the Board of Governors, with no expiration on this entitlement. ARTICLE IV: CONDITIONS FOR DISSOLUTION OF KENT ABA 1. COMPLETE CLOSURE OF CLUBS: Should all founding clubs cease operations, the Kent ABA will be temporarily dissolved. The association may only be reestablished by a founding club member or committee assuming the position of chair. No other club shall have the authority to form or operate the Kent ABA. ARTICLE V: AMENDMENTS 1. AMENDMENTS TO THIS CONSTITUTION: This constitution may be amended only by a unanimous vote of the Board of Governors, ensuring that all founding clubs have a voice in any changes to the governance of the Kent ABA. No amendment to remove founding club is permitted. ARTICLE VI: RATIFICATION 1. EFFECTIVE DATE: This constitution is effective as of May 2nd, 1948, and remains in force until amended or dissolved in accordance with the provisions herein. This constitution serves as a guiding document for the governance of the Kent Amateur Boxing Association, ensuring the legacy of its founding clubs and their commitment to the sport of boxing within the region.

Championships

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In 1881, it organised the first ABA Championships the following year. From 2008 the Championships were known as the ABAE National Championships and then from 2014 until 2018 they were known as the England Boxing National Elite Championships. Another name change followed in 2019 which is the current name, known as the England Boxing National Amateur Championships.[13]

References

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  1. ^ Riach, James (22 June 2015). "Why English amateur boxing has been left reeling by controversial rule". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  2. ^ Charles Dickens (1908). "Boxing". Dickens Dictionary of London. Retrieved 18 December 2010. The Amateur Boxing Association, 49, Finsbury-pvmt, E.C. (founded in 1880 by the Boxing Clubs of that day, amongst which were the Clapton, West London, St. James, the Hon. Artillery Co's, the Highbury, The London Athletic Club, Birmingham and Cestus Clubs, also the German Gymnastic Society) was instituted for "the encouragement and development of boxing, the holding of boxing matches, competitions and assaults at arms, and the giving of prizes at such matches or competitions"; also "the association of all recognised amateur boxing and athletic clubs, who shall abide by and conduct all open competitions under the rules and regulations of the Boxing Association," and "the institution of championship prizes, the governing of championship meetings," etc. The first officers of this association were: Mr. Tom Anderson, president; Mr. R. Frost Smith, hon. secretary, and Mr. B. J. Angle, treasurer. Mr. R. Frost Smith afterwards becoming president. The present holder of that position is Mr. John H. Douglas, the treasurers Messrs. B.J.Angle and J.Hoare, and secretary, Mr. E. T. Calver. The Association defines the status of an amateur and has rules for the proper conduct of all boxing competitions which are binding on all the affiliated clubs and on all competitors for the different championships. These rules are made by the delegates elected by the various clubs, each being represented according to the numerical strength of members, and constituting the association. The fact that all the London Boxing Clubs of any standing are affiliated to this Association shows the position it stands in as the arrangers of and adjudicators in all amateur boxing contests.
  3. ^ "Home Page". Army Boxing Association. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  4. ^ {{cite web |url= https://www.eastmidlandsboxing.co.uk/{{
  5. ^ "Home". homecountiesaba.co.uk.
  6. ^ "London Boxing". London Boxing.
  7. ^ "West Midlands Boxing". www.westmidlandsboxing.com.
  8. ^ "North West Region".
  9. ^ "Police Service Boxing | PCCGB | British Boxing". www.policecommunityclubs.org.
  10. ^ https://www.rafsportsfederation.uk/sports/raf-boxing-association/#
  11. ^ "The Orpington boxing club with an extensive legacy that dates back to pre-WWII". News Shopper. 4 June 2024.
  12. ^ {{cite web |url= https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results?basicsearch=kent amateur boxing association 1948&retrievecountrycounts=false |quote=Kent Amateur Boxing Association formed {{
  13. ^ "Championships Roll of Honour". England Boxing.
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