John Joe Nevin put  Irish sport on the medals table on Day 9 of the 30th Olympiad in London.

The Cavan BC bantamweight beat Mexico’s Oscar Valdez-Fierro 19-13 in a thrilling 56kg quarter-final tonight to guarantee at least a bronze medal.
The win secured Ireland’s first medal in all sports at London 2012.

It also secures a 13th Olympic medal for Irish boxing since Belfast’s John McNally won silver – also at bantamweight – at the 1952 Games in Helsinki
Nevin, a two-time AIBA World medalist, will now meet Cuba’s Lazaro Estrada-Alvarez, the current AIBA World champion, in the semi-finals on August 10th.

Estrada-Alvarez ousted (16-11) Robenilson De Jesus Viera of Brazil in tonight’s corresponding quarter-final.
Mullingar-native Nevin, 23, implemented Billy Walsh’s and Zuar Antia’s game plan to the letter this evening to record a deserved win.
Valdez-Fierro, a constant ball of aggression rolling forward – his tactic’s could be best described not so much as a Mexican wave as a Mexican tsunami – was expected to take the fight to Nevin for the entire nine minutes.
And that’s exactly what the 2008 AIBA World Youth champion did, particularly in the final minute of a frenetic  and thrilling third frame.
Nevin found his range early in the first, and while Valdez-Fierro was doing some good work on the inside, it appeared to be Nevin’s round, but, surprisingly, it was scored 5-5 at the bell.

However, Nevin used his superior technique to open up a three point advantage by the end of the second, one left straight down the middle being the pick of the punches from the Irishman.
It all came down to the third round. Fierro-Valdez came out of his corner with all guns blazing.

Nevin weathered the early storm and appeared to be coasting to victory, but he then took a count after soaking up a big left to the body on the ropes.
That was all the encouragement that the Mexican needed and he began walking the Irishman  down inside the final minute

However, the Irish Elite champion, who is coached by Brian McKeown at the Cavan BC, recovered sufficiently from the mandatory count and showed his class and heart to seal a wonderful victory going down the final stretch.
Nevin collapsed into the arms of Billy Walsh and Zuar Antia at the final bell. Job done and Ireland’s fourth medal from the last two Olympics in the bag.
Next up for the two-time AIBA World medalist and 2012 Olympic medalist is Estrada-Alvarez.

It promises to be a battle Royale between two of the most stylist and talented bantamweights in the world.
2012 Olympic Games
July 28th – Last 32

56kg – Bantamweight – John Joe Nevin (Ireland) beat Dennis Villy Ceylan (Denmark) 21-6

75kg – Middleweight – Darren O’Neill (Ireland) beat Muideen Olalekan Akanji (Nigeria) 15-6

July 29th – Last 32

69kg – Welterweight – Adam Nolan (Ireland) beat Carlos Sanchez Estacio (Ecuador) 14-8

August 1st – Last 16

56kg – Bantamweight – John Joe Nevin (Ireland) beat Kanat Abutalipov (Kazakhstan) 15-10

August 2nd – Last 16

75kg – Middleweight – Darren O’Neill (Ireland) lost to Stefan Hartel (Germany) 12-19

August 3rd – Last 16

52kg – Flyweight – Michael Conlan (Ireland) beat Duke Akeuth Micah (Ghana) 19-8

69kg – Welterweight – Adam Nolan (Ireland) lost to Andrey Zamkovoy (Russia) 9-18

August 4th – Last 16

49kg – Light-flyweight – Paddy Barnes (Ireland) beat Thomas Essomba (Cameroon) 15-10

August 5th – Quarter- final (8.30pm session)

56kg – Bantamweight – John Joe Nevin (Ireland) beat Oscar Valdez-Fierro (Mexico) 19-13

August 6th – Quarter-final (1.30pm session)

60kg – Lightweight – Katie Taylor (Ireland) v Natasha Jonas (Great Britain)

August 7th – Quarter-final (8.30pm session)

52kg – Flyweight – Michael Conlan (Ireland) v Nordine Ouballi (France)

August 8th – Quarter-final (8.30pm session)

49kg – Light-flyweight – Paddy Barnes (Ireland) v Singh Laishram (India)

August 10th- Semi-Finals (1.30pm session)

56kg – Bantamweight – John Joe Nevin (Ireland) v Lazaro Estrada-Alvarez (Cuba)

Irish 2012 Olympic squad

49Kg (Light-flyweight) Paddy Barnes (Holy Family BC, Belfast)

52kg (Flyweight) Michael Conlan (St John Bosco BC, Belfast)

56kg (Bantamweight) John Joe Nevin (Cavan BC)

60kg (Lghtweight) Katie Taylor (Bray BC, Wicklow)

69kg (Welterweight) Adam Nolan (Bray BC, Wicklow)

75kg (Middleweight) Darren O’Neill (Paulstown BC, Kilkenny)

Team Manager: Des Donnelly

Coaches: Billy Walsh, Zuar Antia, Pete Taylor

Physio: Conor McCarthy

Strength & Conditioning: John Cleary

Performance Psychologist: Gerry Hussey