BOXING/Ireland v Canada preview: A host of world championship quarter-finalists, including bronze medallist James Moore of Arklow, will be in action when Ireland take on a team of Canadian champions at the National Stadium tonight.

The Canadian selectors, by naming their 12 reigning national titles holders, indicate their intent in a two-match tour that continues on Sunday in Connemara, a unique venue for an international.

Five-times Irish fly champion Liam Cunningham faces the star of the Canadian team Sebastian Gauthier.

The Canadian was a quarter- finalist at the World championships in Belfast and Cunningham, who was not pleased with his performance at those championships, welcomes another opportunity to prove his mettle.

Darren Sutherland, the St Saviours light middle beaten by John Duddy in the national semi-finals, faces the biggest test of his career against Jean Pascal, another World quarter-finalist.

The big attraction is the meeting of welterweights James Moore and Ryan Savage, a worthy Canadian champion. Moore's all-round style, equally impressive on the counter as in attack, could prove the big banker for Ireland but the overall result should be close.