Donnelly secures victory on WSB debut

By Joseph O’Neill

Ballymena welterweight (69kg) Stephen Donnelly made a successful debut in the World Series of Boxing (WSB) on Friday night.

Fighting for the Poland Hussars, the All Saints BC man won his bout versus the 2013 WSB champions, the Astana Arlans of Kazakhstan.

His opponent in the ring in Lubin was Kazakh Madiyar Ashkeyev. Ashkeyev was a formidable opponent and was fresh from a WSB win over 2012 Olympic gold medal-winning Cuban, Roniel Iglesias. However this did not stop 2014 Commonwealth bronze medalist Donnelly, winning a unanimous decision over five 3-minute rounds (48-47. 49-46, 49-46).

This impressive victory was not enough to prevent the Hussars from losing 3-2 on the night but it is a great start to Donnelly’s WSB career nonetheless.