By IABA Press Officer Bernard O’Neill

Two-time Olympic medalist Paddy Barnes, John Joe Nevin and Michael Conlan will be back between the ropes this afternoon and evening for what will be another crucial day for Irish amateur boxing at London 2012.

Barnes is in against Chinese light-flyweight Zou Shiming in a repeat of the 2008 Olympic semi-finals which the Asian ace won.

Two-time AIBA World medalist Nevin, meanwhile, meets current World champion, Cuba’s Lazaro Estrada-Alvarez at bantamweight.

Nevin and Estrada-Alvarez almost clashed in the 2011 AIBA World final in Azerbaijani, but Nevin was edged out on a countback by England’s Luke Campbell in the semi-finals.

Campbell was beaten 14-10 by the Cuban in the final in Baku.

Conlan is in action versus Lazaro-Alvarez’s compatriot, Robeisy Carrazana-Ramirez, at approximately 8.45pm tonight.

The Belfast flyweight, who is appearing in his first Olympics, has been having a fantastic tournament and his confidence is sky high.

Nevin Fights for Silver in the afternoon session

The 20-year-old  St John Bosco BC stand out has had two good wins under his belt in London and has been switching from orthodox to southpaw with such positive effect that he has now almost created a new boxing stance – let’s call it “orthopaw”

Conlan, Nevin and Barnes are all guaranteed at least bronze going into today’s contests at the ExCel.

However, Irish head coach Billy Walsh says that the Irish trio are not settling for bronze and will be going all out for an upgrade to at least silver on the banks of the Thames.

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

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

August 6th – Quarter-final

60kg – Lightweight – Katie Taylor (Ireland) beat Natasha Jonas (Great Britain) 26-15

August 7th – Quarter-final

52kg – Flyweight – Michael Conlan (Ireland) beat Nordine Ouballi (France) 22-18

August 8th – Semi-final

60kg – Lightweight – Katie Taylor (Ireland) beat Mavzuna Chorieva (Tajikistan) 17-9

August 8th – Quarter-final

49kg – Light-flyweight – Paddy Barnes (Ireland) beat Devendro Singh Laishram (India) 23-18

August 9th – Final

60kg – Lightweight- Katie Taylor (Ireland) beat Sofya Ochigava (Russia) 10-8

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

49kg – Flyweight- Paddy Barnes (Ireland) v Zou Shiming (China)

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

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

August 10th – Semi-Finals (8.30pm session)

52kg – Flyweight – Michael Conlan (Ireland) v Robeisy Carrazana-Ramirez (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