Dean Clancy defeats African champ to get Ireland off to winning start at Youth Olympics
Sligo flyweight Dean Clancy got Ireland off to the perfect start at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires this afternoon.
The Ballincarrow brawler defeated African champion Hichem Maouche of Algeria in the quarter-finals of the under-18 tournament in Argentina.
Clancy made a sharp start, taking the first round only for Maouche to come back strong in the second. Needing a big final round, Clancy swept the third to ensure a unanimous decision win and a semi-final berth.
The European Youth and Junior silver medallist, who is still in his first year at Youth level, will now rematch Great Britain’s Hope Price in the semis in a repeat of their European final earlier this year.
Since that win for Price, the English teen has gone on to win World Youth silver – where he lost to American Asa Stevens in the final who had previously defeated Clancy in the same tournament.
This bout is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon.
While he has made it to the Last Four, the Yeats County teen is not guaranteed a medal – but he does have two chances of securing one. Should Clancy win his semi, he will be guaranteed a silver and will box for gold in the final.
If he loses, Clancy will enter into a box-off with the other losing semi finalist for the one bronze medal on offer – with the Youth Olympics being different to all other major international competitions which reward both losing semi-finalists with bronze.
The other semi-final pits Thailand’s Asian champ Sukthet Sarawut against Brazilian Panamerican Youth gold and World Youth bronze medallist Luiz Olivera
St Brigid’s Edenderry middleweight Lauren Kelly is next up for Ireland. The triple European underage bronze medallist faces dominant Russian world champion Anastasia Shamonova at around 8:00pm tonight (Irish time).
Then, just after midnight, it will be the turn of Leitrim featherweight Dearbhla Rooney. The European Youth silver medallist faces American Roma Martinez.
Youth Olympics 2018
Sunday October 14th
Q/Finals
52kg Dean Clancy (Ireland) v Hichen Maouche (Algeria)
57kg Dearbhla Rooney (Ireland) v Roma Martinez (USA)
75kg Lauren Kelly (Ireland) v Anastasia Shamonova (Russia)
Irish coach: Dmitry Dimitruk
