THE MADNESS of the Haringey Box Cup kicks off on Friday – giving young boxers the chance to do a Vardy or a Yarde.
This year celebrates the 10th edition of the famous tournament, which takes place across a bumper weekend of amateur boxing at London's Alexandra Palace.
More than 500 male and female boxers travel to the capital from around 150 different clubs for the annual event.
There are entrants from Iceland to Sri Lanka via Mongolia and even Canada's Olympic hopeful Wyatt Sanford has jetted in from Nova Scotia.
Bouts takes place in five different rings constructed in the main hall for three frenzied days of relentless action. It has to be seen to be believed.
IBF heavyweight king Anthony Joshua won it twice in a row during his days as a starry-eyed amateur while women's boxing titans Nicola Adams and Katie Taylor also did the business at Ally Pally before they turned over.
All three have gone on to become huge stars in the unpaid ranks but the Box Cup also famously gives a chance for lesser known boxers to make a name for themselves.
And one man who will be keeping a close eye on the action is promoter Frank Warren, who credits the tournament for the emergence of one of his stable's stars – Anthony Yarde.
Warren reckons the magic of Box Cup is that it can help propel unknown prospects into the big time just like it did for his heavy-handed youngster four years back.
He said: “Not everyone is an Olympian or in the GB squad but this is a chance to get yourself noticed.
“If you liken it to football it's a bit like Jamie Vardy isn't it? Look what he did.
“He came from nowhere and fired Leicester to the title and got into the England squad for the Euros.
“That can happen to boxers too at tournaments like the Box Cup. It's just about having the confidence to show what you can do."
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Back in 2013, Yarde won the Box Cup as a virtual unknown in the 86kg Class A category for those boxers with fewer than 10 bouts under their belt.
But he was the talk of the place that year after stoppage wins in the quarters and semis before his opponent made the probably wise decision to pull out before the final.
A report by the London ABA from his performance that weekend stated: "Yarde is certainly one to look out for."
And so it proved.
Since turning pro with Warren, the 25-year-old has raced to 11-0 with 10 knockouts and fights for the WBO European light-heavyweight title at the Copper Box Arena on July 8.
“There have been some great fighters competing there over the years and the one that immediately springs to mind is Yarde," Warren added.
“I think he's the best prospect out there today. He's a monster.
“He only had 12 fights as an amateur and for me the one thing that brought him to my attention was the Box Cup.”
This year there is an added twist with an England team competing alongside the clubs for the first time in Box Cup history.
Eight youth men and five elite women from Team England will be strutting their stuff in the famous old venue – and will be the ones to beat for those competing.
Among them will be young Charles Frankham from The Ring ABC, who has been entered into the youth A category at 60kg.
Frankham, who is a European champion, world bronze medalist and ten-time national amateur champion, will be one to watch this weekend.
He has been tipped for a long and glittering future in the sport so the rest of his weight class will know a win against him could cause a real stir.
The online entry system for the tournament was completely full within two hours of opening this year as the Haringey Box Cup cranked up another gear.
The action begins at 6pm on Friday, when they will kick off no fewer than 153 quarter-finals.
There is talk that they may need six rings next year – you can only feel sorry for the MC.
Click HERE to buy tickets for the event.
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