Head to Head- Walsh v Moylette the Remtach
By IABA Press Officers Bernard O’Neill
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Final: 64kg (Light-welter)
Dean Walsh v Ray Moylette
Walsh edged Moylette on a split decision in January’s Elite light-welter final. The three-rounder, not for the faint-hearted, could have gone either amid a pulsating atmosphere. Walsh prevailed and also walked off with the Boxer of the Tournament Award.
Walsh is aiming for his third successive title, while Moylette is targeting his second in six outings in Ireland’s top flight. Walsh’s win in January tightened his grip on the Irish 64kg vest and he’s been to the European Games and World Championships and claimed bronze at the European Elite Championships this year.
Walsh admitted after Friday’s split decision over Galway’s James Cleary that it was close, adding that he felt he deserved it. Moylette edged Wayne Kelly on a split 24 hours later to set up the second 64kg final between the Wexford and Mayo duo inside twelve months. Moylette admitted that he has to live with the regrets of losing to Walsh last time out but that there will be a different outocme in the rematch. Walsh says he’s confident of a hat-trick. With the exception of the Sean McComb versus David Oliver Joyce showdown, a repeat of the 2014 final which Joyce shaded on a split verdict, Walsh versus Moylette is the hardest fight to call.
Moylette hails from the same Islandeady parish as An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who visited the Stadium in 2012 to support the then European champion. Walsh is a nephew of former Irish head coach Billy Walsh.
Dean Walsh
Age: 21
Club: St Ibars/St Josephs (Wexford)
Stance: Orthodox
Major Honours
2014: Irish Elite champion
2015: European Elite bronze medallist (Bulgaria)
2015: Irish Elite champion (Boxer of the Tournament Award)
2015: AIBA World Elite Championships (Qatar) Preliminaries
AIBA: World Ranking: Currently ranked No. 28
Ray Moylette
Age: 25
Club: St Anne’s BC (Mayo)
Stance: Orthodox
Major Honours
2008 World Youth champion (Mexico)
2010 Irish Elite champion
2011 European Elite champion (Turkey)
2011 AIBA World Elite Championpionhips (Azerbaijan) Reached last 16
AIBA World Ranking: Ex No. 8
