Wayne Kelly bags bronze at Ukrainian Multi-Nations
Wayne Kelly guaranteed Ireland at least bronze at the Trestin Memorial Odessa, Ukraine yesterday.
However, the Westmeath fighter will be our only boxer in action today as the three others in quarter-final action all bowed out.
Portlaoise BC’s Kelly beat Ukraine’s Denys Pesotskyi to book a place in the semis.
It was a third triumph in three days and a second over Ukrainian opposition – with the host nation doubling, trebling, and even quadrupling up in some limits.
A messy clash, the fight was stopped in round two with both boxers needing attention from ringside medics for cuts. The regularly cut Kelly, who was sporting a gash near his right eye, won on points when it went back to the judges.
The Ballynacargy southpaw, bearing the scars of previous battles this week, picked off his shots and kept his composure in the face of Pesotskyi’s aggression. The final scores read 20-18 x 3 to Kelly and 20-18 x 2 for his battling opponent.
There was disappointment though for Emmet Brennan, Tommy Hyde, and Kenny Okungbowa who all bowed out.
Brennan was beaten by home favourite Ivan Papakyn while Hyde lost out to another Ukrainian in Dannylo Zhasan.
Okungbowa almost stopped Jordanian Eshish Husain early but would later suffer a point deduction and lost a 3-0-2 split.
23rd Trestin Memorial Odessa, Ukraine
July 9
Last 32
63kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) beat Vaghinak Bazeyan (Armenia) 5-0
69kg Aiden Walsh (Ireland) lost to Tibenius Barbuso (Hungary) 1-4
75kg Emmet Brennan (Ireland) beat Igor Harchenko (Ukraine) 5-0
Last 16
81kg Tommy Hyde (Ireland) beat Hindawl Al Oada (Jordan) 5-0
July 10
Last 16
63kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) beat Zoravov Petrosayan (Ukraine) 3-2
75kg Emmet Brennan (Ireland) beat Nikita Yakimchyk (Ukraine) 5-0
91kg Kenny Okungbowa (Ireland) beat Shangarbek Batynula (Kazakhstan) RTD2
July 11
Q/Finals
63kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) beat Denys Pesotskyi (Ukraine) 3-2 (fight stopped in round two, cuts)
75kg Emmet Brennan (Ireland) lost to Ivan Papakyn (Ukraine) 0-5
81kg Tommy Hyde (Ireland) lost to Dannylo Zhasan (Ukraine) 0-5
91kg Kenny Okungbowa (Ireland) lost to Eshish Husain (Jordan) 0-3
July 12
S/Finals
63kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) v TBA
Irish squad
63kg Wayne Kelly (Portlaoise) (Bronze, at least)
69kg Aidan Walsh (Monkstown)
75kg Emmet Brennan (Glasnevin)
81kg Tommy Hyde (Mayfield)
91kg Ken Okungbowa (Athlone)
Coaches: Eoin Pluck and Jimmy Halpin