Irish Amateur Update: Bulgaria, AIBA, Dungarvan Free-For-All

Christina Desmond, Jacqui Lynch and Ciara Ginty guaranteed Ireland at least three bronze medals following quarter-final wins at the AIBA World Youth and Junior Championships in Albena, Bulgaria this afternoon and evening.

Desmond, Macroom BC, beat Chinese welter Shi Yazhuo on a unanimous decision to advance to Friday’s 69kg Youth semi-final.

Earlier today, Lynch and Ginty assured Ireland of at least Junior bronze medals following split and unanimous decisions over the Ukrainian pair of Zoriana Boikiv and Karyna Takara in the light-fly and lightweight classes.

Niamh Ball, Amy Broadhurst and Ciara Sheedy had to settle for a top-eight finish after losing out to China, USA and Australia today.

The IABA have named a ten-strong panel for the AIBA World Elite Men’s Championships in Kazakhstan. The Championships officially begin in Almaty on October 11th.

Four Belfast boxers – London 2012 bronze medalists Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan, Sean McComb and Tommy McCarthy – have been named in the team.

Current European champion Jason Quigley will be aiming to add a second major Elite medal to his collection in the middleweight class in Central Asia. Joe Ward and Ray Moylette, both ex World Youth and European Elite champions, line out at light-heavy and light-welter.

London 2012 Olympian Adam Nolan, Gary McKenna and Con Sheehan have also been named in the Irish squad.
The Irish team depart for Kazakhstan next Sunday.

Dungarvan is all set to host the inaugural Celtic Box Cup this weekend. Boxers, coaches, officials and supporters from ten countries will be in the County Waterford town for the three day tournament. The local Sports Centre is the venue for the event and months of planning will come to an end when the tournament is officially opened at 2pm on Friday.

Boxers, male and female of all standards from 64 different clubs in Ireland, UK and Europe, will converge on the town from Thursday morning, with many of them staying for four nights, giving the town a huge economic boost. Teams of up to ten boxers are set compete for the cup.

Both the hotels in the town have been full booked with weeks, as interest in the event is huge. The organizers have drawn up a list of available accommodation for any late comers.

Leading the Irish challenge is Olympic Team Captain, Darren O’Neill. There are a large number of national champions and internationals making their way to Dungarvan for the tournament. Waterford is well represented, with boxers from all the clubs taking part, including Craig McCarthy and Lynne McEnery, both Irish Internationals.

This event also coincides with the 25th anniversary of the local Dungarvan Boxing Club, which is hosting the event. The town has a long boxing tradition, it was the home of Peter Crotty, the 1952 olympian and four time national champion.

The Celtic Box Cup has received great support from the Town Council, the Shanley Group and the Gathering Fund. One has to comment them, as without sponsorship, these events aren’t possible.

Dungarvan Sports Centre is no stranger to big boxing events. It has hosted many international teams, the most recent been the Russian national team for a two week training camp earlier in the year. China were visitors to the Dungarvan venue for an international with Ireland.

Katie Taylor has fought on a number of times in the County Waterford venue and it was the location of her final bout in Ireland prior to London 2012.

This is the inaugural hosting of the Celtic Box Cup, similar team tournaments are very popular in the UK and Europe. Dungarvan is the first club in Ireland to take on a tournament of this size. So if your anywhere near Dungarvan over the weekend, why not stop into the Sports Centre and catch the action. Boxing starts at 3pm on Friday, 12 noon on Saturday and 12 noon on Sunday.