23 Irish fighters in latest Four Nations Rankings

Ireland have twenty-three amateur fighters ranked in the latest edition of the Boxing News’ Four Nations Ratings.

The Top Tens, as of May 3rd, feature fighters from Ireland, England, Scotland, and Wales, with this update factoring in the latest National Championships and the Commonwealth Games.

English fighters top the ladder in seven of the ten weights, Scotland are pole in one, and two Irish fighters top their weight categories – Joe Ward and Brendan Irvine.

With Niall Farrell moving up in weight, Commonwealth silver medallist Brendan Irvine (St Paul’s) is bumped up to #1 at flyweight and is joined by Belfast rival Conor Quinn (Clonard) at #8.

Joe Ward (Moate) remains top at light heavyweight. The European gold and World silver heads a ladder which also features middleweight Caoimhin Agyarko Hynes (Holy Trinity) at #9.

At light flyweight, Connor Jordan (St Aidan’s) and Ricky Nesbitt (Carrickmacross) are placed at #9 and #10 respectively.

At bantamweight, European bronze medalist Kurt Walker (Canal) is up to #2 following his Commonwealth silver. The weight with the most representation from Ireland, Elite champion Evan Metcalfe (Hyland BA) is #6, the recently turned pro Tommy McCarthy (Setanta) is #8, and Myles Casey (St Francis’s) is #9.

Ireland continue to be well placed at lightweight, with Commonwealth bronze medallist James McGivern (St George’s) at #3, Elite Senior champ George Bates (St Mary’s) at #4, and Pat Mongan (Olympic) at #5

Sean McComb (Holy Trinity) is #2 at light welterweight. Elite Senior champion Wayne Kelly (Ballynacargy) is #5.

Ireland have three ranked at welterweight, with Elite champion Kieran Molloy (Oughterard) at #3, Dean Walsh (St Ibar’s/St Joseph’s) at #4, and Commonwealth silver medallist Aidan Walsh (Monkstown) a new entry at #5.

Middleweight Elite Senior champion Michael Nevin (Portlaoise) enters at #3 while Steven Donnelly (All Saints) is in at #5 following his weight change and Commonwealth bronze medal.

Kirill Afanasev (Smithfield) is Ireland’s sole heavyweight ranked, and is in at #5.

Finally, at super heavyweight, Dean Gardiner (Clonmel) remains at #3 while Martin Keenan (Rathkeale) also holds steady at #9.

Notable Irish absences from the list include Elite Senior runner-ups Brett McGinty (Oakleaf), Kevin Sheehy (St Francis’s), Brian Kennedy (St Mary’s), Eugene McKeever (Holy Family), Frankie Cleary (Ballina), and Caoimhin Ferguson (Clonard) as well as experienced internaionals such as Ken Okungbowa (Athlone) and Conor Wallace (Holy Family).

The rankings in full can be found in this week’s edition of the Boxing News.