MEDAL ALERT: Kane Tucker bags bronze after Bahamas barnstormer
Kane Tucker guaranteed himself a bronze tonight at the Commonwealth Youth Games following an all-out war in the Caribbean.
The Newry middleweight took on Scotland’s Ryan Reekie in the quarter finals in the Bahamas and claimed a split decision win after three rounds of trading.
The pair were familiar with each other having sparred previously, and it was a tactical enough opener in which Reekie was the aggressor, but Tucker was being extremely effective with the backhand right.
The fight opened up in the second, with both trading. Reekie started fast, however the body assaults of 17 year old Tucker seemed to be sapping the energy of the spirited Scot – who admirably continued to push forward regardless.
A dramatic final round saw the war continue and the big hitting Ulsterman forced a count to stamp his authority on the fight. Somehow, Reekie came back and fought to the bell as the small crowd in the venue voiced their approval.
After an excellent fight, a split decision was called and Tucker was awarded the win.
With bronze in the bag, Tucker will now look to upgrade to silver on Saturday.
It was a third medal of the day for Northern Ireland as earlier this evening John Moran and Colm Murphy guaranteed light flyweight and bantamweight bronze respectively.
Tucker’s Holy Trinity team mate Kian Bittles is in action tomorrow in the flyweight class, while welterweight Anthony Johnston also starts his campaign. Both fight in quarter final bouts where they will look to add to the squad’s medal tally.
Commonwealth Youth Games VI, Bahamas
Wednesday July 19th
(L16) 60kg – Dominic Bradley lost to Rhys Edwards (Wales) 2-3
(L16) 56kg – Colm Murphy beat Ahmed Faraz (Scotland) 5-0
Thursday July 20th
(QF) 49kg – John Moran beat Seanoa Hall (Samoa) 5-0
(QF) 56kg – Colm Murphy beat Sean Finnigan (Canada) 5-0
(QF) 75kg – Kane Tucker beat Reekie Ryan (Scotland) split
Friday July 21th
(QF) 52kg – Kian Bittles v Allicock Keevin (Guyana)
(QF) 69kg – Anthony Johnston v Ah Tong Marion (Samoa)
Saturday July 22nd
(SF) 49kg – John Moran v James Probert (Wales)
(SF) 56kg – Colm Murphy v TBC
(SF) 75kg – Kane Tucker v TBC
Northern Ireland Team
49kg – John Moran (Illies GG) (Bronze, at least)
52kg – Kian Bittles (Holy Trinity)
56kg – Colm Murphy (St George’s) (Bronze, at least)
60kg – Dominic Bradley (captain) (Errigal)
69kg – Anthony Johnston (Gleann)
75kg – Kane Tucker (Holy Trinity) (Bronze, at least)
