Ireland's recently crowned boxing champions will try for European Championship spots at qualifying tournaments in Istanbul and Halle in the coming weeks. The squads were announced at Saturday's meeting of the Central Council IABA.
Among the champions set for Istanbul this week is Martin Murphy, the 34-year-old flyweight, boxing in his final year as an eligible competitor on grounds of age.
His St Paul's Waterford clubmate Neil Gough, who won his eighth senior title this year, is included in the squad for Halle next month. Brian Magee, Ireland's captain in the 7-2 win over Scotland last Friday has already qualified at middle.
The IABA will ask the EABA (the European body) convention in Romania in June to revert to the three three-minute rounds instead of five two-minute rounds. The IABA will also push for the national colours to be used instead of the blue-red corner format.
The IABA will also support the introduction of 12-ounce gloves from middleweight upwards and permission for boxers to don headgear outside the ring before contests.
IRISH SQUADS FOR EUROPEAN QUALIFYING
At Istanbul, February 10th-16th: Fly - M Murphy (St Paul's); Feather - P O'Donnell (Dockers); Light welter - M Wickham (St Patrick's); Light middle - M Roche (Sunnyside); Light heavy - A Sheerin (Swinford); Super heavy - S Reynolds (Sligo). Coaches - B Dunne (Enniscorthy), P Fitzsimons (Dockers).
At Halle, March 3rd-9th: - Light fly - J Rooney (Star); Bantam - B Dunne (CIE); Light - E McEneaney (Dealgan); Welter - N Gough (St Paul's); Super heavy - J Kiely (Limerick). Coaches - J Finn (St Paul's), A Donnelly (Dealgan).
IABA nominations for European commissions: Technical and rules - P McCrory (Ulster); Referees and judges - Tommy Murphy (Leinster); Coaching - M Hawkins (Ulster); Youths - B O'Connaire (IABA president); Safety - J Hunt (Army).
