The 25th Memorial of Julius Torma international

The 25th Memorial of Julius Torma international tournament takes place in Prague from 8th to 11th September 2016. The tournament is organized in honor of Julius Torma the Czechoslovakian Olympic winner who passed in 1991 in Prague. It is a Youth Men tournament, but this year there will be also four Elite Women weights (48, 54, 60, and 64 kg). “Women´s boxing is very popular in The Czech Republic. Martina Schmoranzova is two times bronze European medalist. But we have many more promising women boxers so our national federation is trying to encourage them by organizing a tournament for women during the Julius Torma Tournament this year”, says Svatopluk Zacek, the president of the Czech Boxing Association and the organizer of the biggest Czech EUBC event Grand Prix in Usti nad Labem.

“The Julius Torma Memorial tournament is the biggest youth Czech tournament but still trying to keep very friendly atmosphere. The main advantage is the location. Teams stay in 3 star hotel in wider downtown of the Prague at the same place where the ring is, so it is very comfortable for all the boxers and team officials. Many teams come by car but there are a lot of cheap flights to Prague and the organizer of course provide complimentary airport shuttle service during the tournament”, inviting teams Jaroslav Novotny, a member of organizing committee of the tournament and deputy supervisor. There are 9 youth men weights from 52 kg to super heavy and 4 elite women weights (48 kg, 54 kg, 60 kg and 64 kg). There are 8 boxers in each weight category so it means 3 days of boxing with finals on Sunday in one ring.

During the 25th history of the tournament we made a great relationship with some teams which are visiting the tournament on the regular basis like Slovakia, Hungary, Poland or Austria. We had to move the event to September due to World youth championship. But there are just few youth events in September so we hope that teams from Germany, Estonia, Lithuania, France, Israel, Russia will come again and we will welcome also new teams from other part of boxing world. Prague is beautiful easy to travel so we plan the tournament schedule to have enough time also for sightseeing. Accommodation is just few minutes from the city center, says Jaroslav Novotný.

The event is organized in honor of Julius Torma Olympic gold medalist from London in 1948. It is not only celebration of the Czech success in boxing, but Julius Torma and his memorial also represents the pan European idea. Julius Torma was born in Budapest, Hungary, on 7 th March 1922. But he was a son of Slovakian parents who left Slovakia because of work duties. He started to train with the coach Zsigmond Adler, who was arrested during the World War II because of his Jewish roots. Julius Torma helped him to escape from the camp and hide him. In 1946 Torma moved back to Czechoslovakia. Two years later he won the gold medal in 67 kg weight category at Olympic games in London in 1948. He had broken his thumb in semifinals, but did not give up. He continued to the final with the injury and after KO in 3rd round after series of hooks he celebrated the gold medal for Czechoslovakia. This final welter weight match was declared as the best match of the Olympic tournament as well as Torma was honored as the best boxer of Olympic games in London in 1948.

After Olympic games he denied offers to become a pro and go to United States. He moved to Prague and stared to box in boxing club Uhelne sklady where he had stayed as a coach after he finished his successful boxing career in 1955. He became a Prague legend and the main person in Uhelne Sklady which was the best Czech club at that time. He also made many future champions as a coach in that club. He taught young boxers not only to train and to punch hard but also to use their head. “Boxer does not have the head to be punched to it but to use it for thinking,” he always said to his boxers. Julius Torma died in Prague on 23th October 1991. He fought 996 matches and lost just 7 of them.

“We hope that we will continue in the tradition of this Memorial and welcome young boxers and elite women boxers to whiteness great matches as every year. The registration is still open till August. It is not necessary to come with the whole squad. But I advise to send the preliminary nomination as soon as possible because there are just 8 boxers in every weight and we respect the rule first come first serve. We have some sponsors so the payment (35 EUR per day) is really low especially when considering the location of the hotel and the main touristic season in Prague”, says Svatopluk Zacek.

Here is the preliminary schedule of 25th Julius Torma Memorial International Tournament:

Thursday 8th September

Arrival of delegations 16:00 – 22:00

Friday 9th September

Medical examinations, weight in 08:00 – 10:00

Technical meeting 11:00 – 12:00

1/4 finals 14:00 – 18:00

Opening Ceremony 18:00 – 18:30

1/4 finals 18:30 – 22:00

Saturday 10th September

Medical examinations, weight in 08:00 – 09:00

1/2 finals 16:00 – 21:00

Sunday 11th September

Medical examinations, weight in 08:00 – 09:00

Finals 10:00 – 13:00

Departure of delegations 13:00