BOXING enthusiasts cannot complain about the menu at the National Stadium tonight when no fewer that 20 bouts, from bantamweight to super heavyweight, are on the bill for the National Championships. The programme of semi final bouts includes six reigning champions, and some interesting clashes are promised.

One of the most interesting bouts on the programme (starting time 7.0 p.m.) involves the reigning bantamweight champion, Willie Valentine from the St Savour's club, and Oliver Duddy from Coleraine, who meet in the first bout of the night. The other semi final involves Tommy Waite from Cairn Lodge and Damien McKenna from Holy Family, Drogheda.

The defending featherweight champion, Adrian Patterson from St Patrick's in Newry, figures in the third bout of the night. He meets Darren Hyland from the Golden Cobra club. The winner will meet either Terry Carlyle, from Sacred Heart, or Jim Conlon, from Holy Trinity.

With the champion, Glen Stephens, already eliminated, Martin Reneghan, last year's defeated finalist, is favourite for the lightweight title. Reneghan, from Keady, meets Seamus Cowman of St Paul's in one semi final. The winner faces either Eugene McEneaney, from Dealgan, or Owen Montague of Antrim.

There will also be a new champion in the light welterweight division where Fergal Carruth from Drimnagh hopes to follow his brother Michael on the Olympic trail. He meets John Morrissey from Sunnyside in the first semifinal. Francis Barrett and Mark Dillon contest the other.

A new champion will also be crowned in the welterweight division. Last year's winner, Neil Sinclair, has joined the professional ranks. Last year's defeated finalist, Neil Gough from Waterford, appears to be favourite. First, however, he has to beat Tommy Crosby from Crumlin for the right to meet the winner of the Sean Barrett (Rylane) and Mark Riggs (West Finglas) bout.

At light middleweight, Fermoy's Declan Higgins is expected to retain his title, but he must first beat Francis Webb, from Holy Trinity, and then the winner of the bout between Stephen Gibson, from Immaculata, and James Kelly, from Manorhamilton.

The middleweight division looks like a showdown between the holder, Brian Magee from Holy Trinity, Belfast, and Denis Galvin from St Saviour's while the lightweight champion, Stephen Kirk from Cairn Lodge, may face Gordon Joyce in that division's final.

Of interest in the heavyweight division is the possible clash between former champion Paul Douglas (the reigning super heavyweight champion) and the promising young Meathman Cathal O'Grady.