On This Day: July 29th
1980: Belfast flyweight Hugh Russell defeated North Korean Ryon-Sik Yo on a 3-2 split decision to guarantee himself bronze at the Moscow Olympics. Little Red had previously defeated Samir Khiniab of Iraq and Emmanuel Mlundwa of Tanzania in the preliminaries and last 16 by 5-0 unanimous decisions. Russell lost out in the semis to Bulgaria’s eventual gold medalist, Petar Lessov.
1986: Three bronze medals were guaranteed at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. Featherweight Chris Carleton and light welter Brendan Lowe outpointed Welshman Tony Khan and Scot James Pender respectively, while middleweight Patrick Tinney stopped Fijian Vodo Matai in the first round.
In the semis Carleton would lose to Englishman Peter English, Lowe fell to Canadian Howard Grant, and Tinney was defeated by Aussie Jeff Harding, all three by stoppage.
2014: Twenty-eight years later a Northern Irish team returned to Scotland and Derry duo Sean Duffy and Sean McGlinchey secured bronzes on this day. Light heavyweight McGlinchey had won a split-decision over Jamaican Chevon Clarke before defeating Kenyan Elly Ajowi to secure bronze. He would lose in the semis to New Zealand star and eventual gold medalist David Nyika.
Light welterweight Duffy defeated Sri Lankan Mohamed Dilshan and Tanzanian Fabian Gaudence in the early rounds before beating Malaysian Khir Akyazlan for a medal. In the semis he would be defeated by Namibian Junias Jonas.
1953: In front of his home fans at the Guild Hall in Derry, Billy Spider Kelly outpointed Belfast champion John Jim Griffen to win the BBBoC Northern Irish featherweight title.
