McDonagh pulls out of Irish Squad and Olympic qualifiers

Elite lightweight champion Michael McDonagh will return from the Irish training camp in Germany tomorrow, Irish head coach Billy Walsh has confirmed

The Irish Elite squad are in Hennef preparing for the final Olympic qualifier for European male boxers in Trabzon, Turkey next month and will take part in the 19-nation Chemistry Cup in Halle, Germany next week.
However, St Mary’s BC fighter McDonagh, , will not be competing in the Chemistry Cup or the Olympic qualifiers.
“Michael felt a bit uncomfortable in his surroundings and it was felt he wasn’t ready for the step up from domestic boxing to the Olympic qualifiers and he didn’t want to deny anyone the opportunity to qualify in Trabzon,” said Walsh.

David Oliver Joyce has been drafted in in place of the Dubliner and will wear the Irish lightweight vest in Halle and Trabzon. Joyce, who boxes out of St Michael’s Athy BC, was desperately unlucky not to qualify  for the Olympics from the 2011 World Championships in Baku.