THE TWO remaining boxers on duty for Ireland at the European Amateur Championships in Vejle, Denmark, on Saturday enjoyed very different fortunes.
Light welterweight Francis Barrett will gain admission to the Olympic Games in Atlanta through the back door after winning an extremely close box off with Austrian Adrian Suteu. But flyweight Damaen Kelly lost his European Championship semifinal. He can take some solace from the fact that his opponent, Albert Packiev of Russia, looked extremely good.
Kelly has already qualified for the Olympics and he can go there with a degree of confidence, not to mention a European bronze medal in his pocket.
Barrett's meteoric rise was complete when the judges awarded him a desperately close points decision against the tall, awkward Austrian on a 32-29 countback.
In a less than spectacular bout, Suteu sought to keep Barrett at long range, while the Irishman preferred to get in close. Initially tied on 6-6, it was Barrett who got a decision that could have gone either way.
On the other hand, Kelly was comprehensively out boxed by Packiev. The skilled Belfast counter puncher became frustrated by the Russian, who opted to use his superior reach. Staying out of trouble, Packiev caught Kelly, the aggressor, coming forward and no one could quibble with the 9-3 score.
