MEDAL ALERT: Bronze for Brendan Irvine at European Championships
Brendan Irvine got past a relentless opponent today at the European Championships in Kharkiv, Ukraine, to guarantee Ireland a second bronze medal.
Thee Wee Rooster took on Spaniard Gabriel Escobar, a silver medalist at the European U22s earlier this year, in the quarter finals and emerged victorious after three fast-paced rounds.
The stocky Spanish southpaw began very aggressively, landing some meaty shots early on before the longer Irvine began to score well from distance down the stretch.
A better second saw Irvine land with some big, clean punches, but Escobar would continue to have an exceedingly high output, throwing lots although landing proportionately little.
The relentless Madrid boxer came out like a train in the third, and did get through with some eye-catching shots initially, before Irvine took control and finished very strongly with some quality varied work.
A tough to score bout, the judges were not swayed by Escobar’s activity (much of which was caught on the gloves of the Irishman) and they unanimous awarded Irvine the win and the guaranteed bronze medal.
Irvine will take on English youngster Niall Farrell, who earlier defeated double Olympian and EU bronze medalist Manuel Cappai, in the semi finals on Saturday afternoon.
Earlier today Kurt Walker guaranteed himself bantamweight bronze, while Sean McComb was very unlucky to lose in the light welterweight quarters.
Joe Ward is in action later today
European Elite Men’s Championships Kharkiv, Ukraine June 14th/25th
June 16th
(Last 32)
64kg Sean McComb (Ireland) beat Erik Agateljan (Czech Republic) 5-0
June 17th:
Last 32
56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat SeverianeChildaze (Georgia) 5-0
69kg Steven Donnelly (Ireland) lost to Sergei Sobylinski (Russia) 0-5
June 18th
Last 32
60kg Pat Mongan (Ireland) lost to Artur Bril (Germany) 0-5
75kg Emmet Brennan (Ireland) beat Bartosz Golebiewski (Poland) 3-2
June 19th
Last 16
52kg Brendan Irvine (Ireland) beat Bathuhan Citfci (Turkey) 5-0
60kg Sean McComb (Ireland) beat Vitaly Dunaystev (Russia) 3-2
91kg+ Dean Gardiner (Ireland) lost to Viktor Vykhryst (Ukraine) TKO2
June 20th
Last 16
56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Tayfur Aliyev (Azerbaijan) 4-1
75kg Emmet Brennan (Ireland) lost to Kamran Shakhsuvarly (Azerbaijan) 0-5
81kg Joe Ward (Ireland) beat Matus Strnisko (Slovakia) 5-0
91kg Darren O’Neill (Ireland) lost to Ramazazaqn Musilimov (Ukraine) 1-4
June 21st
Q/Finals
52kg Brendan Irvine (Ireland) beat Gabriel Escobar (Spain) 5-0
56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Raffaele Di Serio (Italy) 3-1
64kg Sean McComb (Ireland) lost to Luke McCormack (England) 2-3
81kg Joe Ward (Ireland) v Sean Lazzerini (Scotland)
June 23rd
S/Finals
52kg Brendan Irvine (Ireland) v Niall Farrell (England)
56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) v Mykolo Butsenko (Ukraine)
Irish squad
52kg – Flyweight – Brendan Irvine (St Pauls) BRONZE, at least
56kg – Bantamweight – Kurt Walker (Canal) BRONZE, at least
60kg – Lightweight – Patrick Mongan (Olympic)
64kg – Light-welter – Sean McComb (Holy Trinity)
69kg – Welterweight – Steven Donnelly (All Saints)
75kg – Middleweight – Emmett Brennan (Glasnevin)
81kg – Light-heavy – Joe Ward (Moate)
91kg – Heavyweight – Darren O’Neill (Paulstown)
91+kg – Super-heavy – Dean Gardiner (Clonmel)
High-Performance Director/Head of Delegation: Bernard Dunne
Head Coach: Zaur Antia
Coaches: Dmitry Dimitruc, Jimmy Payne, Eoin Pluck
Physio: Seamus Caffrey
Doctor: Jim Clover
Strength & Conditioning: John Cleary
Performance Analysis: Alan Swanton
Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)
