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Medal Alert – O’Brien ensures bronze at least with win over Rio Olympian in China

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Danny O’Brien is guaranteed at least bronze at the World Military Games in China.

The Army heavyweight scored a sensational unanimous decision over Brazil’s Juan Nogueira this afternoon.

The final scores read 30-37, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28 to the Dubliner after a hard-punching, three-round quarter-final.

Nogueira was beaten Russia’s Evgeniy Tischenko in the last 16 at Rio 2016. Tischenko controversially won gold at the 31st Olympiad with a win over Vassily Levit that was said to be more of a robbery than Conlan-Nikitin.

O’Brien, who has now won three fights in Wuhan, will meet Kazakhstan’‘s Abzal Kuttybekov for a place in the finals on Friday.

Commandant Adrian Watson hailed O’Brien’s performance. “His physical courage is a reflection of the excellent soldier he is,” he said.

Watson also praised the input of Gerard Riordan (father), Phil Sutcliffe, Pat Ryan, and Army head coach John Molloy.

World (CISM) Military Games Wuhan, China

October 25

S/Final

91kg Danny O’Brien (Ireland) v Abzal Kuttybekov (Kazakhstan)

October 23

Q/Final

91kg Danny O’Brien (Ireland) beat Juan Nogueira (Brazil) 5-0

October 22

Q/Finals

75kg Leona Houlihan (Ireland) lost to Viktoryia Kebikova (Belarus) RSC3

Last 16

81kg Brian Kennedy (Ireland) lost to Di Zhou (China) 0-5
91kg Danny O’Brien (Ireland) beat Krenar Aliu (Finland) 5-0
91kg+ Antoine O Gríofa (Ireland) lost to Kumar Satish (India) 0-5

October 21

Last 32

91kg Danny O’Brien (Ireland) beat Michel Gavaj (France) KO1

October 20

Last 16

75kg Leona Houlihan (Ireland) beat Garza Fallon (USA) W/O

Last 32

64kg Stephen Lockhart (Ireland) lost to Zang Shuang (China) 0-5
69kg Ross Hickey (Ireland) lost to Miliusha Dzmitry (Belarus) RSCI1
75kg Michael Connelly (Ireland) lost to Golembiewski Bartosz (Poland) 0-5

Irish squad

Team Manager Comdt: Adrian Watson (Roscommon)

Head coach: Sgt John Molloy (7th Batt) (Offaly)

Coach: Phil Sutcliffe

75kg: Cpl Leona Houlihan (Dublin)

64kg: Pte Stephen Lockhart (7th Dublin)

69kg: Pte, Ross Hickey (Kildare)

75kg: Lt Mike Connelly (Galway)

81kg: Tpr Brian Kennedy (Offaly)

91kg: Pte Danny O’Brien (Dublin)

91kg+: Pte Antoine O Gríofa (Galway)

dpg

Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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