AmateurHeadline News

Three Irish fighters through to the semi finals in Russia

By IABA Press Officer Bernard O’Neill

Willie Donoghue and Michael Nevin joined Stephen McKenna in the semi-finals of the Nikolay Pavlyukov Youth Memorial in Anapa, Russia after recording outstanding wins today.

All three are guaranteed at least bronze.

Donoghue, an ex AIBA World Junior champion, beat Fatkhidim Khamroev on a unanimous decision and Nevin, the current European Junior champion, beat Batyr Sappashev by a similar margin.

Nevin will now meet Russia’s Bibert Tumenev in Thursday’s welter semi-final. Tumenev claimed light-welter gold and the Best Boxer Award at the 2014 AIBA World Youths in Bulgaria.

Monaghan light-fly McKenna progressed earlier today, but Irish captain John Joyce and Francis Cleary are out of the tournament following last-eight reversals.

McKenna, whose dad Fergal and Billy McClean are working his and Ireland’s corner, beat Uzbek Kamranbek Eshimatov on a split decision to book his ticket into the semi-finals.

However, Cleary was unlucky to go out at the last-eight stage on a split to Russian bantam Demitry Krazhkov. Cleary took a standing count in the second round, an intervention which Billy McClean described as unwarranted, adding that they were unhappy with the decision as Cleary produced an excellent performance.

Joyce lost on a unanimous decision to Cuba’s David Moral-Gutterrez. McClean said that Joyce can hold his head high after producing three good rounds against an exceptional opponent.

McKenna will be in action in the early session which begins at 11am (Irish time) tomorrow, Donoghue and Nevin will be between the ropes in the later session, which begins at 3pm (Irish time).

Nikolay Pavlyukov Youth Memorial Anapa, Russia

April 2nd (S/Finals)

49kg Stephen McKenna (Ireland) v Saken Bibosinov (Kazakhstan)
52kg Willie Donioghue (Ireland) v Oybek Zhuraev (Uzbekistan)
69kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) v Bibert Tumenev (Russia)

April 1st (Q/Finals)

49kg Stephen McKenna (Ireland) beat Kamranbek Eshimatov (Uzbekistan) 2-1
52kg Willie Donoghue (Ireland) beat Fatkhidim Khamroev (Kyrgyzstan) 3-0
56kg Francis Cleary (Ireland) lost to Demitry Krazhkov (Russia) 1-2
69kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) beat Batyr Sappashev (Kazakhstan) 3-0
75kg John Joyce (Ireland) lost to David Moral-Gutterrez (Cuba) 0-3

March 31st (Last 16)

49kg Stephen McKenna (Ireland) beat Rustan Khamidov (Kazakhstan) 3-0
52kg Willie Donoghue (Ireland) beat Mikhail Dozomov (Russia) 3-0
56kg Francis Cleary (Ireland) beat Denista Benito Boltonov (Russia) 3-0
60kg Tiernan Bradley (Ireland) lost to Spartak Tomaryan (Armenia) 0-3
64kg Kieran Molloy (Ireland) lost to Ivan Kozloysky (Russia) 0-3
69kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) beat Guseyn Tarveroili (Azerbaijan) 3-0
69kg Lewis Crocker (Ireland) lost to Saipan Antonyan (Russia) 1-2
75kg John Joyce (Ireland) beat Gleb Gulik (Russia) 2-1
81kg Sean Conroy (Ireland) lost to Vladimir Uzunyan (Russia) 0-3

March 30th (Last 32)

52kg Willie Donoghue (Ireland) beat Aldah Oshorov (Russia) 3-0
64kg Kieran Molloy (Ireland) beat Artem Kakulyan (Russia) 3-0

Irish squad

49kg Stephen McKenna (Old School) (Bronze, at least)
52kg Willie Donoghue (St Michael’s Athy) (Bronze, at least)
56kg Francis Cleary (Olympic)
60kg Tiernan Bradley (Sacred Heart Omagh)
64kg Kieran Molloy (Oughterard)
69kg Louis Crocker (Holy Trinity)
69kg Michael Nevin (Portlaoise) (Bronze, at least)
75kg John Joyce cpt (St Michael’s Athy)
81kg Sean Conroy (Ballyhaunis)

Team manageer: Gerry O’Mahony
Coaches: Billy McClean & Fergal McKenna
R&J: Martin O’Neill

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