(JAN 23) One of Europe’s (indeed the World’s) leading ‘all female’ Box Cups take place yet again this year in Boras, Sweden when around 300 boxers from many different countries are expected to take part.

There will be a strong Irish representation as always though many of the top names will be missing as the IABA National Elite Championships will be taking place days later at the National Stadium in Dublin.

It will though be a great opportunity for young Irish girls to shine on the International scene when up against leading boxers from other Nations.

Indeed one expects competitors from as far afield as North America including a top Team Canada squad to travel to Sweden for this ever popular event. A very strong team from British clubs have also entered some too from Russia.

The ‘Organiser in Chief’ is one RAY HUSAC who has been enthusiastically supporting the women’s sport for so long, not that he ignores the men’s sport either! He has a full supporting team including wife Mona and leading officials including Referees and Judges from several countries as well as many From Sweden and other parts of Scandinavia.

Here he tells us more about what is in store in 2019.

“February 1-3, 2019 we will have the 10th anniversary for The Golden Girl Championship!

The Golden Girl Championship is the biggest amateur boxing tournament for female boxers, all levels. Held in Borås, Sweden.

So far we have entries from 21 nations worldwide and more are still on their way. The closing date for entries is 30th January so not long now .

Only 6 fighters have won the GOLDEN GIRL title! Will you be the 7th?

The former two-time Champion from 2016-2017, Tatiana Zrachevskaya from Russia, is the strongest Golden Girl we ever had. She dominated the competition over two years and is today the WBC World champion.

Other notable names who have won the Golden Girl belt include Marielle V .Hansen and Mira Potkonen the 2016 Rio Olympics 60kg medallist.

Will you be the next one, he asks, inviting boxers and/or clubs to enter the event and reminding all that there is still time to so do. Remember that final day for entries: 30th January.

So what can one win at this tournament? Ray Husac again:

“Let us clarify that even if a boxer wins their own class and takes a gold medal, you haven´t won the GOLDEN GIRL title, that only ONE boxer can do over the whole tournament. So far there has only been five girls in the world who has won the title, those are:

– Hannah Beharry from England 2009.

– Jemyma Betrian from Netherlands 2011.

– Marielle V Hansen from Norway 2012 and 2013

– Mira Potkonen from Finland 2014 and 2015

– Tatiana Zrachevskaya from Russia 2016 and 2017

As always a gold and silver medal is awarded to respective boxer in the final bouts of a weight class. Apart from that the BIGGER prizes are as follow:

Best Novice Diploma boxer: This is the prize one boxer will win in this class where only technique is judged i.e.: how you can protect yourself and everything apart from hard punches are allowed.

Best Junior: One prize for the best junior in the tournament.

Best Youth: Best youth in the tournament gets this prize.

Best Senior: As above, the best senior will win this prize.

Best Slugger/Brawler: This Award goes to the boxer who is the hardest, meanest and most lethal slugger/brawler in the tournament. Type like Mike Tyson, Joe Frazier or even a Marvin Hagler style!

Best technical boxer: An Award that the most skilful boxer receives. Such as Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Floyd Mayweather.

Best showmanship: This prize goes to that boxer who delivers great boxing and give the crowd that Little extra. Great showmanship. Types like Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard or Roy Jones jr.

Fight of the year: The prize goes to those two boxers who was in the fight that everyone talked about.

Best Club/Team: The team or club that won most fights during the Championship

The Muhammad Ali Award: This is a prize for the most charismatic boxer.

The Peoples champ: This prize goes to the one boxer that got most votes from the audience and viewers.

THE GOLDEN GIRL: The title the whole tournament is about. It is not enough to just win your fights, you have to show greatness in all areas in the ring, both offensive and defensive boxing, you have to be a ‘master of class ‘and really impress the jury. You have to give the audience a little extra, you have to be the best boxer all categories in the tournament and win the fights. You have to be the best to win the title and be THE GOLDEN GIRL”

Remember too as our own Sue ‘TL’ Fox wrote on the “Golden Girl” site back on 30th November 2018 :

“It is great to see these wonderful opportunities for female amateur boxers. WBAN will be following the GOLDEN GIRL championships closely and reporting stories that come into us”.

As Sue says we welcome Finals day reports and photos from Ray (Husac) or other media sources and wish them yet another highly successful tournament in 2019, a vitally important year for AIBA Women’s Boxing with European Games in Minsk and hopefully qualifiers confirmed for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

There will of course also be the various Confederation Championships culminating in October’s 2019 AIBA Women’s World Championships. This is a particularly important year bearing in mind that the 2020 Olympic Games will have for the first time FIVE women’s weights. Still far too few and nowhere near EQUALITY with male but at least a ‘small step’ in the right direction.