Mixed fortunes for Ireland in World Championships today
Ireland suffered mix fortunes at the World Elite Championships today.
EU Games gold medal winner Kurt Walker booked his place in the last 16 via a split decision over Columbian southpaw David Avila in Ekaterinburg, Russia today.
The No. 6 seed in the featherweight class, won 4-1 in what was his first bout at the tournament.
Walker joined Michael Nevin in the stage of 16 thanks to a 30-27,29-28,29-28,29-28,27-30 scorecard.
Avila threatened when he cut down space, but Walker, working off simple but effective two-punch combinations and body shots, was always one step ahead of his durable opponent.
Canada’s Robin Basran awaits for a place in the quarter-finals on Tuesday. Basran beat Cuadra Guerrero, Nicaragua’s only boxer in Russia, earlier today.
Dublin heavyweight Afanasev dropped a 4-1 split verdict to Bulgaria’s Radoslav Panaleev after the bout was scored 30-27,30-27,30-27, 29-28, 28-29.
The Smithfield BC man worked his jab to good effect in the opening round and both men delivered solid backhands in a rough three-rounder, but the judges leaned toward the aggression of the Bulgarian.
Meanwhile, Portlaoise BC middleweight Michael Nevin, who has two victories under his belt in Ekaterinburg, faces Russia’s Gleb Bakshi for a place in the last eight tomorrow.
A former pro boxer, Bakshi is the No. 8 seed in the 75kg class.
Antrim welter Aidan Walsh is in against England’s No.2 seed Pat McCormack in the last 32 on Monday in a repeat of the 2018 Commonwealth final which the Sunderland fighter won in Australia.
2019 World Elite Men’s Championships Ekaterinburg, Russia
September 15
Last 32
57kg Kurt Walker beat David Avila (Columbia) 4-1
91kg Kiril Afanasev (Ireland) lost to Radoslav Panaleev (Bulgaria) 1-4
September 16
Last 32
69kg Aidan Walsh (Ireland) v Pat McCormack (England)
Last 16
75kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) v Gleb Bakshi (Russia)
September 17
57kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) v Robin Basran (Canada)
Results
September 15
Last 32
57kg Kurt Walker beat David Avila (Columbia) 4-1
91kg Kiril Afanasev (Ireland) lost to Radoslav Panaleev (Bulgaria)1-4
September 14
Last 32
75kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) beat Vytautas Balsys (Lithuania) 5-0
September 13
Last 64
69kg Aidan Walsh (Ireland) beat Miroslav Kapuler-Cishchenko (Israel) 4-1
September 12
Last 64
52kg Regan Buckley (Ireland) lost to Aldoms Suquor (Indonesia) 2-3
63kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) lost to Matthew Alexander (Trinidad & Tobago) 2-3
September 10
Last 64
81kg Kane Tucker (Ireland) lost to Erkin Adylbek (Kyrgyzstan) 0-5
91kg Kiril Afanasev (Ireland) beat Austin Aokuso (Australia) 5-0
September 9
Last 64
75kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) beat Andre1 Vreme (Moldova) 5-0
Irish squad
52kg: Regan Buckley (St Teresa’s)
57kg: Kurt Walker (Canal)
63kg: Wayne Kelly (Portlaoise)
69kg: Aidan Walsh (Monkstown)
75kg: Michael Nevin (Portlaoise)
81kg: Kane Tucker (Emerald)
91kg: Kiril Afanasev (Smithfield)
High-Performance Director: Bernard Dunne
Head coach: Zaur Antia
Coaches: John Conlan and Eoin Pluck
