Football Echo: Seconds Out: National box-offs are key to future; ABA adopt US-style policy.

Byline: NICK PEET 

WI TH British amateur boxing still reeling from the TKO it suffered out in Athens, when only Amir Khan made it into the ring, national selectors it seems are finally beginning to open up to change.

No other sport in Britian is currently under the spotlight as much as the fight game. Khan's incredible preformance aside, this summer's Olympic Games was, quite simply, a huge embarrassment for the powers that run amateur boxing in the UK.

Change is the only way to progress, and before the year is out the first signs of a shift away from dated competitions and old-hat selection regimes will provide the country with a definitive list of its leading fighters.

For the first time the four leading contenders in each weight division will take part in an American-style box off tournament -- to prove who is the number one in each category.

Using a round robin format, all four contenders will face-off against each other in all 11 weight divisions giving the ABA a definitive list of the pecking order from flyweight to superheavy.

Of course Merseyside is well represented. The region will have 10 boxers in action at Crystal Palace on the weekend of December 17-19 -- and all are strong enough to come out on top.

Super-heavy David Price will face some tough opposition to hold onto his number one spot, while Rotunda heavyweight Anthony Bellew will look to progress after winning last year's ABA title to climb above Sunderland's David Dolan.

St Helens middleweight Stephen Birch has been at a crossroads in his career for around 18 months, but will get the opportunity to reaffirm his commitment to the sport in December.

After years as the country's leading featherweight, David Mulholland steps up to 60kgs this season and has his sights set on national treasure Amir Khan and his top slot.

Three divisions provide increased interest lcoally however. At welterwight Kirkdale star Neil Perkins, who just missed out on Athens, will meet with St Helens' ABA champ Martin Murray in what will surely be a storming contest.

At 10-stone, Nathan Brough of the Salisbury will go head-to-head with John Watson of Higherside, while in the bantam division Rotunda starlet Stephen Smith kicks off his first season in the seniors with a meeting with big rival Nick McDonald of Vauxhall Motors.

All in all the three days of boxing promises to be some of the most exciting action of the season -- however, and here's the disappointing bit -- the whole thing is going to be behind closed doors!

Can you believe that? It's time to make sure the Seconds Out moles a rewell fed and armed with mobiles and cameras.

nNathan Brough and Martin Murray both won first round bouts at theCyprus Multi-Nations yesterday, but the Solly ace was later disqualified for hitting after the official says he said break. An appeal was lodged.