AmateurHeadline News

Limerick big men guarantee two bronzes at Minsk Multi-Nations


National Elite Senior runners-up Kevin Sheehy and Martin Keenan guaranteed themselves at least bronze at the Liventsev Memorial in Minsk, Belarus today.

Heavyweight Sheehy and super heavyweight Keenan both won their quarter-final clashes in the Belarussian capital.

St Francis’s Sheehy convincingly Robertas Jakulys of Lithuania on a unanimous decision in the 91kg class while Rathkeale’s Keenan, the 2017 Irish champion, overcame French Olympian and European bronze medallist Paul Omba-Biongolo.

However, there was less joy for Ireland’s three remaining fighters who all bowed out at the last eight stage.

Glasnevin bantam JordanMoore can consider himself to be very unlucky to have been on the wrong end of a 3-2 split to Kazakh Bekzat Makzhan while Donegal middleweight Brett McGinty was edged out by Georgia Giorgi Kharabadze.

Most unlucky was Belfast light welter James McGivern.

The St George’s fighter, who has moved up in weight in anticipation of the recalibration of weight classes, lost after his fight with Italian Paolo di Lernia was stopped in the second round after the Commonwealth bronze medallist suffered a cut above his eye.

While it appeared to be from a clash of heads, the ref ruled that it was a punch and the Italian was given a knockout win. McGivern was 4-1 up on the judge’s cards from  the first frame.

Liventsev Memorial Minsk, Belarus

October 10th
Q/Finals
56kg Jordan Moore (Ireland) lost to Bekzat Makzhan (Kazakhstan) 2-3
64kg James McGivern (Ireland) lost to Paolo di Lernia (Italy) RSCI2
75kg Brett McGinty (Ireland) lost to Giorgi Kharabadze (Georgia) 1-4
91kg Kevin Sheehy (Ireland) beat Robertas Jakulys (Lithuania) 5-0
91kg+ Martin Keenan (Ireland) beat Paul Omba (France) 4-1

October 11th
S/Finals
91kg Kevin Sheehy (Ireland) v Uladzislav Smiahlikau (Belarus)
91kg Martin Keenan (Ireland) v Mantas Valavious (Lithuania) or Vladan Baliach (Serbia)

October 9th
Last 16
52kg Regan Buckley (Ireland) lost to Nodari Barbaigze (Belarus) 0-5
69kg Eugene McKeever (Ireland) lost to Yauheni Marachauk (Belarus) 2-3
91kg+ Martin Keenan (Ireland) beat Dmitry Makarevich (Belarus) 5-0

Irish squad
52kg Regan Buckley (St Teresa’s BC)
56kg Jordan Moore (Glasnevin)
64kg James McGivern (St Georges)
69kg Eugene McKeever (Holy Family)
75kg Brett McGinty (Oakleaf)
91kg Kevin Sheehy (St Francis)
91+kg Martin Keenan (Rathkeale)

Coaches: Michael Carruth, Eoin Pluck
R&J: John Mongan

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Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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