AMATEUR BOXING ALLIANCE

Most gyms display affiliation badges without explaining what they mean or why they chose that particular body. We chose the Amateur Boxing Alliance (England) CIC for specific reasons that matter to how we run the club and how we develop our boxers. Here they are.

## What the ABA is

The Amateur Boxing Alliance is a Community Interest Company registered in England, formed as an alternative for clubs that had no interest in what existing boxing organisations were offering. It is managed entirely by regional volunteers. No paid executives. No central committees making decisions that clubs then have to live with. The people running their gyms on Tuesday nights are the same people running the organisation.

The governance principle is straightforward: no rule is amended, removed, or added without a majority vote from the membership. That is not a mission statement. It is in their founding articles.

## Why we chose it ### Our professional coaches can work in the amateur corner

This is the most important reason. Under ABA rules, coaches who hold a professional licence can coach and corner their amateur boxers. Our head coach Anton Pattenden holds a British Boxing Board of Control trainer's licence. Under some amateur bodies, that would bar him from the amateur corner entirely. Under the ABA, it does not.

The practical effect: when one of our competitive boxers steps in the ring, Anton is in their corner. Not a stand-in. Not a borrowed official from another club. The same coach who prepared them in the gym throughout.

### Safety standards that do not move

Headguards are mandatory for every boxer at every level: championships, tournaments, club shows. No carve-outs for experienced fighters. All coaches and officials must be DBS registered and listed on the ABA Medical Registrar's Database before they work anywhere near a ring. Every competitive boxer's health record is maintained on a three-year medical scheme across their full registration period, not reset event by event.

### A competition structure built for development

Senior boxers compete as Novice, Intermediate, or Open Class. If you have never had a competitive bout, you face someone else in the same position. The classification system prevents beginners being matched against experienced fighters on the basis of weight alone.

For juniors, the ABA mandates single-year age groups at championships. A 13-year-old does not compete against a 15-year-old. London ABA championship competitions for juniors run in October through November each year, with senior open championships in May. The calendar is structured so there is always a target to train toward.

### Cross-sport flexibility

ABA members can compete in other governed non-professional combat sports including judo and karate, provided their boxing cards are updated by the club. A boxer who also trains in another discipline does not have to choose, or risk losing their boxing registration to compete elsewhere.

## What this means for H&G members

Honour and Glory holds multiple affiliations: ABA, London ABA, and BBBofC. No single body covers every situation. The ABA handles our amateur competition pathway and gives us the governance structure we trust. The BBBofC licence covers professional standards and coach licensing. Together, they mean we can support a boxer from their first free trial session through to competitive boxing at any level, without changing coaches or clubs.

If you want to compete, we will help you get there. Our competitive boxing classes are for adults who want to train and fight properly: structured sessions, proper conditioning, and a pathway into the ABA competition calendar. If you are just starting out, begin with a recreational class first and progress from there if the competitive route interests you.

If you are training for fitness, the affiliation tells you the club operates to a standard checked by an external body. Either way, the badge means something.