More than 100 boxers will be converging on the University of Essex for the English University Boxing Series to be held on the last weekend in January.

The team from Essex came second in the inaugural event last year and has high hopes of coming first this time when the event is held on home ground in the Ivor Crewe Lecture Hall at the Colchester Campus on Saturday, 26 January and Sunday, 27 January.

Boxers from universities all over the country have signed up to the event organised by the Amateur Boxing Association of England (ABAE). Tom Gilbert, National Programmes and Participation Manager, ABAE, said: “We’ve delighted that the competition is being held at the University of Essex this year. It will be the first time a university has hosted the competition and the venue is fantastic.

“We’re expecting a lot of support and hopefully some students will be inspired to give boxing a go once they see their fellow students in action. Boxing provides some of the best all over body conditioning you can get.”

Gordon Charlesworth, Coach of the University of Essex Amateur Boxing Club based at the University’s Sports Centre said: “We only entered eight boxers last year with minimal experience and look what we achieved.

“This year we have some very good prospects and look to enter more than a dozen determined and skilful boxing hopefuls including Essex ABA Champion Toyin Afolabi, Multi Nations Gold Medal winner Danny Azeez and female boxer Naenae Miller. It should prove to be an exciting weekend.”

The weekend is open to the general public, with tickets available via https://kx.essex.ac.uk/BnB/Default.aspx at £8 for each day, starting at 12 noon and running until late evening, or £13 for the weekend. There will be a licensed bar and catering. Free parking is available.

For further information, or to attend, please contact the University of Essex Communications Office on 01206 872400 or e-mail: comms@essex.ac.uk