On This Day: October 5th
2011: John Joe Nevin scored a 19:17 win over Uzbek Orzubek Shayimov to become the first Irishman to win two World Championships medals. In the earlier rounds in Baku Nevin had accounted for Indian Akhil Kumar (21:14) and Mongolian Dorjnyambuu Otgondalai (+18:18). Nevin would be unable to upgrade his bronze medal however as he was defeated on countback by England’s Luke Campbell in the semis, a win the Hull boxer would repeat it the Olympic final the following year.
1982: In what was his ninth fight, Olympic bronze medalist Hugh Russell defeated Commonwealth Games gold medalist Davy Larmour in a Belfast derby for the Irish and Northern Irish bantamweight titles. Little Red would take a 117.5-116.5 points decision after twelve rounds at the Ulster Hall. The bout also acted as a British title final eliminator, and Russell would win the Lonsdale belt the following year against John Feeney. Larmour however would exert his revenge over Russell in his first defence.
1936: In a rematch of their fight earlier this year, Jimmy McLarnin gained revenge over recent lightweight World champion Tony Canzoneri, with the Down boxer, probably Ireland’s greatest ever fighter, winning a ten round points decision.
