Big Names enter boxoffs at light heavy-Egan and Ward both register at 81kgs
August 5 Jonny Stapleton
Kenneth Egan and Joe Ward have both entered the World Championship amateur box offs at 81kgs and will affectively do battle for their London 2012 Olympic title dream in the National Stadium next week.
The IABA have announced they will hold a very controversial un-seeded elite tournament “to assist with the selection of the team to represent Ireland at the World Elite Championships in Baku.” The tournament is set to take place from next Wednesday with the finals being held on Saturday.
The World Championships holds extra significance this year as it offers direct passage to the biggest stage of all the Olympics. A top 16 finish opens the door London 2012. Some clubs and respected boxing pundits believe the senior champions have earned the right to represent Ireland in all international competitions during their year reign and as a result should go to the World Championships.
If that was the case,however Irish boxing legend and Beijing Sliver medallist Egan as well as European gold medallist Ray Moylette wouldn’t be on the plane to Baku and subsequently couldn’t compete in London 2012.
A lot of fighters will leave it to Wednesday’s 8am weigh to declare if they intend to compete and in what division.
However, Egan and recent European gold medallist, Ward have signalled their intent and have both signed up to compete in the light heavyweight division of the tournament, setting up a one of the most eagerly anticipated fights in recent Irish boxing history
After Ward issued a first National defeat on Egan in over a decade and became senior champion early in the year debate has ragged as to if either would move to heavyweight in a bid to ensure easier passage to the Worlds and Olympics, but neither fighter are hiding and Irish fight fans will get to see the young teenager pretender against history making amateur legend with the ultimate prize at stake.
Interestingly enough fighters from the other controversial weight division, light welterweight have decided to play the waiting game.
Champion Ross Hickey has yet to declare himself available for the tournament, as has European gold medallist and Senior Championship semi finalist Moylette. The only confirmed entrant is son of former Olympian and Phil Sutcliffe jnr.
The List of Entrants as of August 5
Un-seeded Open Elite Championship 2011
| Kg | Name | Club | Weighed in at | Paid |
| 46-49kg | EVAN METCALF | CRUMLIN | ||
| Kg | Name | Club | Weighed in at | Paid |
| 52kg | CHRISTOPHER PHELAN | RYSTON | ||
| 52KG | SHANE ROCHE | CORINTHIANS | ||
| 52KG | DECLAN GERAGHTY | CRUMLIN | ||
| Kg | Name | Club | Weighed in at | Paid |
| 56kg | JOHN JOE NEVIN | CAVAN | ||
| 56KG | SHANE COX | GOREY | ||
| 56KG | DANNY COUGHLAN | ST ANNES | ||
| 56KG | RYAN LINDBERG | IMMACULATA | ||
| Kg | Name | Club | Weighed in at | Paid |
| 60kg | MICHAEL SMYTH | CAIRN LODGE | ||
| 60KG | JASON CONROY | CRUMLIN | ||
| Kg | Name | Club | Weighed in at | Paid |
| 64kg | PHILIP SUTCLIFFE | CRUMLIN | ||
| Kg | Name | Club | Weighed in at | Paid |
| 69kg | NAILL MURRAY | GOREY | ||
| 69KG | FERGAL REDMOND | ARKLOW | ||
| 69KG | PADDY GALLAGHER | GLEANN | ||
| 69KG | BRIAN BROSNAN | CRUMLIN | ||
| 69KG | GRAHAM HOGAN | CRUMLIN | ||
| 69KG | MARTIN WALL | CRUMLIN | ||
| Kg | Name | Club | Weighed in at | Paid |
| 75kg | ANDREW JENNINGS | ST CATHERINES | ||
| 75KG | PAUL MCDONNELL | NEILSTOWN | ||
| 75KG | CONOR COYLE | ST JOSEPHS DERRY | ||
| 75KG | SHANE MURTAGH | CRUMLIN | ||
| 75KG | LUKE KEELER | CRUMLIN | ||
| Kg | Name | Club | Weighed in at | Paid |
| 81kg | KENNETH EGAN | NEILSTOWN | ||
| 81KG | JOE WARD | MOATE | ||
| 81KG | SEAN ALLEN | ARKLOW | ||
| 81KG | PATRICK OSHEA | SUNNYSIDE | ||
| Kg | Name | Club | Weighed in at | Paid |
| 91kg | DAVID MCGUIRE | CRUMLIN | ||
| 91KG | STEPHEN WARD | MONKSTOWN ANTRIM | ||
| Kg | Name | Club | Weighed in at | Paid |
| 91+kg | KENNETH OKUNGBOWA | ATHLONE | ||
| 91+KG | DAVID JOYCE | MOATE | ||
