INTER-island bouts could be back on the bill on an annual basis with CI Championship belts at stake.

Following last weekend’s return of Jersey-Guernsey amateur boxing at Beau Séjour, Jersey Leonis head coach Dave Thompson and his Guernsey opposite number, Graham Guilbert, are keen to formalise the contest with full Amateur Boxing Association backing.

At the moment the problem with official CI championships is that the Channel Islands has long lost its area status under the sport’s national umbrella body. Guernsey and Jersey box under the jurisdiction of the Western Counties.

But Thompson and Guilbert do not see it as a major problem, and are looking into purchasing boxing belts to be presented to the best in the islands. ‘It would be nice to be made official, but we will have to wait and see the outcome,’ said Guilbert.

• Picture: Light-middleweight Alex Begbie during his bout against Guernsey’s Shane Le Patourel. Picture: Guersney Press