Moylette arrives in Venezuela ahead of Olympic last stand

Ray Moylette and team arrived in Vargas, Venezuela last night ahead of the last throw of the Rio dice for Irish and international boxing.

The Mayo light-welter will compete in the final Olympic qualifier for August’s Olympics in Vargas.

The weigh-in and draw will be held on Saturday. Boxing begins on Sunday at 3pm local time [8pm Irish time]

The tournament is billed as an AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) versus World Series of Boxing (WSB) clash, but will also feature professional boxers chosen by their own national federations.

Bouts will be contested over 3×3 minute rounds in Vargas. 2011 European champion Moylette will book a Rio ticket if he finishes in the top three in the 64kg class. The finalists qualify automatically and, crucially, the beaten semi-finalist box-off for the third place.

So far, Paddy Barnes, Brendan Irvine, Michael Conlan, David Oliver Joyce, Katie Taylor, Steven Donnelly, Michael O’Reilly, and Joe Ward have qualified for Rio.

Irish coach Eddie Bolger and Martin Brennan, Moylette’s club coach at the St Anne’s BC, will be working Ireland’s corner in Vargas.

Twenty six Olympic places are up for grabs at the end of the line for a qualification process which began in 2014.

“It’s the last qualifier and it will be tough, but it’s an exciting opportunity for Ray with good potential,” said Bolger.

Venezuela has been something of a happy hunting ground for Irish boxers in this Olympic cycle, with Paddy Barnes and Mick Conlan qualifying on a magical night in Maiquetia last year.

Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The FIghting Irish (@ThefIrish)