AmateurHeadline News

Dean Gardiner one win from Rio

Tipperary super heavyweight Dean Gardiner is now just one win away from aplace at the Rio Olympics after beating Moldovan Alexei Zavatin in today’s +91kg semi-final.

The Clonmel BC man earned a 29-28 decision across the board, winning the first two rounds to give his Eastern European opponent a mountain to climb.

Breakfast needs to win the tournament outright to win a berth in Brazil.

In tomorrow’s final Gardiner will face a familiar foe in Italy’s Guido Vianelli. Vianello defeated American Marlo Moore, a current gym mate of Gardiner’s old Clonmel pal Con Sheehan, in his semi-final today.

The Munster man was defeated by Vianello at the 2014 EU Championships, but bounced back to beat him at the 2015 European Championships and will now hope to win the rubber match tomorrow.

Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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