Irish boxing squad to learn European opponents today

The strongest Irish amateur boxing team to step into a ring will learn the names of their first opponents tomorrow when the draw for the European Championships at the Palace of Sport in Minsk takes place.

That the team arrived there without the usual fanfare that would befit three Olympic medallists and two current European Champions says more about the Irish Amateur Boxing Association’s inability to market their golden assets than it does the quality of the boxers.

Teenager Joe Ward is the light heavyweight European champion and ranked eighth in the world. Ray Moylette is the light welterweight European champion and ranked eighth in the world. Olympic silver medallist John Joe Nevin is ranked first in Europe, second in the world at bantamweight, while lightweight Michael Conlan, an Olympic bronze medallist, is ranked third in Europe and the world. Paddy Barnes, with two Olympic bronze medals is the light flyweight ranked sixth in the world and third in Europe. Not bad quality from a team of 10.

To ask what their ambitions are in this event belittles their ability as all five as well as a few of the others on the team hope to win a gold medal. Jason Quigley, the Donegal middleweight, is another a bright young prospect.

Again the Irish boxers could face decisions that are hopelessly out of kilter with what happened in the ring as they did at an Olympic qualification event in Turkey last year.

"We had a good training camp and good sparring in Kiev and we're very happy with the work we've got done and where we're at this point," said head coach Billy Walsh. "We're down to the fine tuning and sharpening up parts now and the squad are looking forward to the start of the championships."

In Moscow 2010, Ireland came home with five medals, Barnes a gold, Darren O’Neill a silver, and bronze for

Eric Donovan

, Tyrone McCullough and

Kenny Egan

. The year before it was three bronze in Liverpool. The draw tomorrow will indicate how tough some of the pathways will be. No Russians and no home fighters from Belarus would be a good start.

Squad in Sports Round-up