±«Óãtv

The ±«Óãtv today announced it will broadcast live competitive women's boxing for the first time with coverage of the GB Amateur Boxing Championships.

The new competition created by the British Amateur Boxing Association (BABA) aims to identify the best prospects in British male and female boxing and give sports fans an opportunity to see potential stars of the London 2012 games.

The finals of the Championship, taking place at Liverpool's Echo Arena, will be broadcast live on ±«Óãtv Red Button on Saturday 13 November (time tbc) with a highlights package on ±«Óãtv Two on Sunday 14 November, 2.30pm-4pm.

Commentary will come from Jim Neilly and Richie Woodhall with Steve Bunce providing punditry.

Claire Stocks, Olympics Sports Editor, ±«Óãtv Sport said: "We hope that sports fans will enjoy the chance to watch live amateur boxing on the ±«Óãtv and get behind our Olympic hopefuls.

"The depth of talent amongst the men, who won 11 medals at the Commonwealth Games including three Golds for England's Simon Valilly and Tom Stalker and Scotland's Callum Johnson, as well as five medals at the recent European Championships, and the promise of our women, two of whom won silver medals at the Women's World Championships in June, bodes well for the 2012 Olympics and beyond."

News of the deal was welcomed by ±«Óãtv TV's amateur boxing summariser and former Olympic Bronze medallist and WBC World Super Middleweight Champion, Richie Woodhall.

Woodhall, who is also a Coaching Consultant to GB Boxing, said: "This is great news for boxing and great news for sport on the ±«Óãtv. It will be a chance for the wider public to witness the talent that exists in Great Britain and get a first chance to watch some of the athletes they will be cheering on when the Olympics get underway in 2012."

SB4