European Games Preview
Action has now gotten underway at the inaugural European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan. Finally, fifty years after the rest of the world’s continents, Europe has established an Olympic-style, multi-sport competition, to match the Pan-American, Asian, All-African, and Pacific Games. On Tuesday boxing begins at Baku’s Crystal Hall and 330 boxers will compete for the 15 gold medals on offer. For men there is the added incentive that the top three in each category will qualify for the World Championships in Doha, Qatar, this October. A new international event on the boxing calendar gives Ireland’s wildly successful amateur boxers another opportunity to win even more medals as the High Performance Unit-inspired amateur boxing Renaissance continue. In total, Ireland are sending 12 boxers to the Games (9 male, 3 female) and irish-boxing.com is here to give you an in-depth preview of the tournament and the Irish boxers who will hopefully be arriving back into Dublin Airport laden with medals in two weeks time.
Brendan Irvine
49kg – Light Flyweight
With Paddy Barnes recovering from hand surgery, Belfast’s Brendan Irvine will be stepping up and featuring in his first major senior international tournament. The St Paul’s ABC man won his first National Senior Title February and the 19 year old feels that he may grow into the 52kg soon enough where he will have one eye on Rio 2016. First however ‘Rooster’ will be focused on Baku where he will have his Round of 16 bout on Friday knowing that he is just two fights away from a medal.
Myles Casey
52kg – Flyweight
Casey is younger brother to former Prizefighter and European Champ, Willie, and the St. Francis’s southpaw will be looking to add to his family’s trophy cabinet. In the space of six months the Limerick lad has won a National U-22 title, a National Intermediate title, and a National Senior Title, and he will be hoping to progress further in Baku where he steps into the ring on Tuesday for the Round of 32.
Kurt Waker
56kg – Bantamweight
The Canal BC man was an elite underage talent winning bronze in the 2012 World Youth Championships and silver at the 2013 European Youth Championships. Now he will be hoping to impress at his first major senior international tournament where he will get a taste of what it is like to step into Mick Conlan’s boots. With Conlan already qualified for Rio it may be Tokyo 2020 before Walker gets his chance to impress on the Olympic stage so between now and then the 20 year old will be looking to gain as much experience and win as many medals as he can.
Sean McComb
60kg – Lightweight
The Holy Trinity BC man is the joker of the Irish team but he is also an outstanding boxer. At six foot tall, Siúcra Sean is massive for the weight category and the rangy and awkward southpaw and will be hoping to flummox the opposition and win his first major international medal. The current National Senior champion is targeting Rio 2016 and is hoping to take the first step at the European Games where he begins his campaign on Tuesday.
Dean Walsh
64kg – Light Welterweight
Nephew to head coach Billy, Dean Walsh is looking to make an impact on the international scene having won the Best Boxer award at the National championships earlier this year. Walsh had his first taste of major international competition last year at the EU Championships in Bulgaria where he lost a dubious decision in the quarter-finals. The 20 year old Wexford youngster wants to erase the memory of this disappointment by winning a medal in Azerbaijan and the yellow belly is gunning for gold. Walsh first steps through the ropes on Tuesday.
Adam Nolan
69kg – Welterweight
While he represented Ireland at the 2012 Olympics, the punching policeman has yet to win a medal at a major international tournament. The stylish southpaw will be hoping to put that right in Baku as he looks to build towards qualifying for an impressive second Olympic Games. The Wexford man is in great form too having won gold at the recent Gee Bee invitational as well as the Best Boxer award. At 28, the Bray BC man is one of the wise old heads of a very young team and his experience will be vital. Nolan’s assault on the medals starts Tuesday.
Michael O’Reilly
75kg – Middleweight
The Portlaoise man won an impressive silver at last year’s EUs – his maiden international tournament – and he will be confident of taking home honours again this month. The supremely skilled middleweight is aiming for Rio were he will be looking to continue on our proud recent history at middleweight. Lovely to watch, with more than a little power as well, the 22 year old will want to announce himself as a real Olympic contender with gold in Baku. He enters the ring on Tuesday.
Darren O’Neill
91kg – Heavyweight
At 29 and now in his third senior weight category, the Kilkenny teacher is definitely the wise man of the Irish team. Bar Katie Taylor, O’Neill is the most decorated boxer on the panel with European silver (2010) and EU gold and silver (2009 and 2014 respectively). He faces a tough task in the heavyweight division where he will be outsized by most, but – with his notable power and wily boxing brain, he can never be discounted. The Paulstown BC man’s Games start on Tuesday.
Dean Gardiner
+91kg – Super heavyweight
Long in the shadow of the now-professional Con Sheehan, ‘Breakfast’ is finally getting his chance on the international team. The Clonmel man was unlucky not to medal at last years EUs and has since improved in leaps and bounds, confirming his place as Ireland’s #1 super heavy. The Tipperary Titan has the size to match the Eastern giants in the division and the 27 year old could have a break-out tournament in Baku where he begins boxing on Tuesday.
Ceire Smith
51kg – Flyweight
Five-time National Champion Ceire Smith will be looking for her first senior international medal in Baku. With seeding not being in effect for women’s boxing it means that there is likely to be a few shocks and the Cavan boxer will be looking to spring one. The DCU student steps through the ropes for the first time on Friday knowing she is just two fights from a medal.
Michaela Walsh
54kg – Bantamweight
Belfast’s Walsh turned 22 last week while in pre-tournament camp and a medal in Azerbaijan would be the prefect present. The confident Holy Family boxer won silver in last year’s Commonwealth games, losing a razor-thin split decision to British star Nicola Adams, and has a long term plan to develop and win gold in Rio. She fights in the Round of 16 on Saturday.
Katie Taylor
60kg – Lightweight
Last, but certainly not least, is Katie Taylor. What more can be said about the 28 year old that hasn’t already been said? One of Ireland’s most successful sports stars of all time with a staggering SEVENTEEN major international gold medals and will be heavy favourite to make it eighteen in Baku. Bray’s golden girl will be the last of the Irish team to begin their campaign when she steps into the ring on Sunday
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