As the Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) continues to shed the remnants of its troubled past, an opportunity for a glimpse into the future will be provided at this month's National Senior Championships. Preliminary bouts take place at the National Stadium, South Circular Road, Dublin, this weekend and the entry of more than 80 boxers from the four provinces is a sure sign that the sport will survive.

Speculation that "amateur" boxers may be paid for their efforts could be premature, but things are changing rapidly following radical changes at the top of the administration process. However, none of this will impinge on the contestants' determination to gain the elusive title of Irish champion boxer.

Jim Rooney from The Star club in Belfast has already achieved this end - he is unopposed in the light flyweight division and so retains that title he won last year.

Defending their titles, however, will be Liam Cunningham from Saints in the flyweight class, Pat O'Donnell from Dockers at feather, Eugene McEneaney from Dealgan at light, Neil Gough from Waterford at welter, Michael Roche from Sunnyside at light middle, Brian Magee from Holy Trinity at middle, John Kiely from Corpus Christi at heavy and Stephen Reynolds from Sligo at super-heavy.

The latter, who has been described by no less a shrewd observer of boxing than Joe Kirwan as "the most exciting boxer to come on the scene for years", will have three other contenders in his sights before the draw is made. They are John White from St Patrick's in Newry, John Kinsella from Crumlin and Tom Clare from Buncrana.

This division is notoriously unpredictable, but the pairing for the final will be known later tonight and Reynolds is expected to be opposed by White in the finals, which are scheduled for January 23rd.

There are also only four entries in the flyweight division, giving the distinct impression that Liam Cunningham will retain his title here. With Damaen Kelly gone to the professional ranks, the names of Charlie Nash from the Ring club in Derry recommends itself - if only for sentimental reasons - but things are much more open in the featherweight division where Pat O'Donnell defends his crown.

At lightweight, Eugene McEneaney will have six contenders for his title and at light-welter, there will be a new champion as Glen McClarnon has turned professional. Eight fighters will vie for the vacant title led by Paul Conlon from Holy Trinity and Paul McCloskey from St Canice's who contested the Ulster final with Conlon on top.

At welterweight, the reigning champion, Neil Gough from St Paul's in Wexford, leads the field with Francie Barrett from the London club Olympic the danger, depending on the draw. At light-middle, the champion Michael Roche from Sunnyside in Cork is expected to retain his title in spite of what is expected to be a strong challenge from the intermediate title holder, Tom Fitzgerald from Ballyvolane. The native Romanian Ciprian Petrea Surugiu might surprise everyone in this division.

Brian Magee is expected to retain his middleweight title in a sector which has eight entries, while a new champion will be crowned in the light-heavy section with Stephen Kirk having turned to the professional ranks. Adrian Sheerin from Swinford could emerge here, although Sean O'Grady from St Saviour's is also fancied.

At heavyweight, the holder John Kiely from Corpus Christi will have seven challengers, but says he fears nobody.

Irish titles apart, the winners can look forward to a busy season on the international front with trips to Sweden, Norway, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece, Kuala Lumpur, Austria and Argentina all scheduled and the European championships in Belarus the big prize.

Boxing tonight starts at 7.0 and tomorrow at 5.0.