Europe’s prestigious boxing event, the Tammer Tournament, will be held in Tampere, Finland from 16 October until 19 October.

The last edition of the Tammer Tournament was held shortly after the AIBA World Boxing Championships in 2013, and the upcoming edition will be much stronger than last year with top nations such as Russia, United States of America, England, Thailand, Turkey and Brazil taking part.

Fast facts
What: Tammer Tournament
Where: Tampere, Finland
When: 16-19 October, 2014

The Tension and the Drama
Finland’s boxing was among the best in the European some decades ago, but their athletes were not able to quality to the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Their 18-year-old rising hope, AIBA Youth World Championships quarter-finalist Kalle Kallioinen qualified for the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games, and might be the success story that will revitalise boxing in Finland.

The Middleweight class (75 kg) boxer will be taking part at the EUBC European Youth Continental Championships instead of the Tammer Tournament, but his teammates such as Mira Potkonen and 20-year-old Antti Hietala will both be in action in Tampere from October 16.

Ones to watch
Scotland’s Reece McFadden shocked Welsh star, and AIBA World Championships silver medallist Andrew Selby in the first preliminary round of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow where he eventually achieved a bronze medal.

The 19-year-old Scot has quick footwork and strength, and England’s Jack Bateson and US youngster Malik Jackson will be his main rivals in the event.

Brazil’s Everton Lopes was a gold medallist at the 2011 AIBA World Boxing Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan and following an unsuccessful London 2012 Olympic Games, he returned with a bronze medal at the 2013 AIBA World Boxing Championships in Almaty.

The 26-year-old Light Welterweight class (64 kg) boxer suffered an early loss at the World Military Championships in June, but he is a strong favourite in Tampere.

Hungary’s EUBC European Continental Champion Balazs Bacskai moved up to the Middleweight class (75 kg) in the last month of 2013, and the 26-year-old boxer’s first daughter was born in June, and his little girl is an extra motivation for him.

Netherlands’ top men’s boxer Peter Mullenberg was a silver medallist at the 2013 EUBC European Continental Championships in Minsk, and reached the Top 8 at the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Almaty, which means he is also strong enough to get a title in Tampere.

US hope Lenroy “Cam Awesome” Thompson is one of the best Super Heavyweight class (+91 kg) boxers, and has won several European tournaments in 2014.

He has been a member of the national squad since 2007, and is one to watch in Finland.

Facts of the Tammer Tournament
83 athletes from seventeen nations are registered to take part in the Tammer Tournament, which is higher in comparison to previous editions.

Among the top European nations, Russia, England, Hungary and Turkey will be also there in the event in Tampere, while Uganda will be representing the African continent in the Tammer Tournament.

From the American Boxing Confederation, Brazil and the United States of America will also competein the event with some competitive athletes.

Asia’s great boxing nation Thailand will be sending two boxers to Tampere, where their biggest job will be the acclimatization from the tropical environment to a Nordic one.

Live streaming of the Tammer Tournament
There will be online live streaming during the Tammer Tournament on Friday, Saturday and on Sunday on Sport TV which will be available in the following link:
http://sporttv.fi/events

History of the Tammer Tournament
The first edition of the Tammer Tournament was held in 1977, and since then all of the continents have taken part in the competition.

Altogether, 35 nations competed in 1997 which was the highest number in the history of the Tammer Tournament.

The record number of athletes is 146 men’s boxers from 1999 when the event was one of the qualification tournament for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

An excellent number of 22 nations competed in 2010, when several Asian countries used the tournament as preparation prior to the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games.

Among the stars and Olympic Champions, US boxer Mike Tyson, US Barcelona 1992 Olympic Champion Oscar De La Hoya and England’s London 2012 Olympic Champion Luke Campbell have also taken part in at least one edition of the Tammer Tournament.

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