Barnes and Conlan nicely poised in race for RIO- Donnelly in WSB action this weekend

Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan are nicely poised in the World Series of Boxing Individual rankings in the race for qualification for the Rio Olympics. Click here.

Barnes, who has won three from three so far this season, and Hasboy Dusmatov of the Ukraine are in joint No. 1 spot in the individual light-flyweight rankings, and Conlan, who has won two from three this season, is in joint second spot in bantamweight rankings with four other boxers, including Cuba’s Olympic champion Robeisy Ramirez-Carrazana.

Barnes (Holy Family BC) and Conlan (St John Bosco BC) will line for Italia Thunder on February 28 against the Astana Arlans of Kazakhstan in Kazakhstan. The eyes of the Irish boxing public will be on two bouts which the Irish coaching staff describe as crucial in the battle for pole position and a top-two placing in the light-fly and bantam classes.

The two top ranked WSB boxers at the end of the WSB regular season in April will each obtain a quota place for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in the following weight categories: Fly, Bantam, Light, Light Welter, Welter, Middle and Light Heavy.

While for Light Fly, Heavy and Super Heavy weight categories, one top ranked boxer at the end of the regular season will each obtain a quota place for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Meanwhile, Steven Donnelly is in Miami with Irish coach Eddie Bolger ahead of his second WSB outing for the Hussars of Poland versus the USA Knockouts in Florida on Friday. The All Saints BC welter, the 2014 Irish Elite champion, is slated to meet Brian Cebalo. Having won his only WSB fight this season, Donnelly will be aiming to improve to two wins from two against the Americans.