Medal Alert – O’Brien ensures bronze at least with win over Rio Olympian in China
Danny O’Brien is guaranteed at least bronze at the World Military Games in China.
The Army heavyweight scored a sensational unanimous decision over Brazil’s Juan Nogueira this afternoon.
The final scores read 30-37, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28 to the Dubliner after a hard-punching, three-round quarter-final.
Nogueira was beaten Russia’s Evgeniy Tischenko in the last 16 at Rio 2016. Tischenko controversially won gold at the 31st Olympiad with a win over Vassily Levit that was said to be more of a robbery than Conlan-Nikitin.
O’Brien, who has now won three fights in Wuhan, will meet Kazakhstan’‘s Abzal Kuttybekov for a place in the finals on Friday.
Commandant Adrian Watson hailed O’Brien’s performance. “His physical courage is a reflection of the excellent soldier he is,” he said.
Watson also praised the input of Gerard Riordan (father), Phil Sutcliffe, Pat Ryan, and Army head coach John Molloy.
World (CISM) Military Games Wuhan, China
October 25
S/Final
91kg Danny O’Brien (Ireland) v Abzal Kuttybekov (Kazakhstan)
October 23
Q/Final
91kg Danny O’Brien (Ireland) beat Juan Nogueira (Brazil) 5-0
October 22
Q/Finals
75kg Leona Houlihan (Ireland) lost to Viktoryia Kebikova (Belarus) RSC3
Last 16
81kg Brian Kennedy (Ireland) lost to Di Zhou (China) 0-5
91kg Danny O’Brien (Ireland) beat Krenar Aliu (Finland) 5-0
91kg+ Antoine O Gríofa (Ireland) lost to Kumar Satish (India) 0-5
October 21
Last 32
91kg Danny O’Brien (Ireland) beat Michel Gavaj (France) KO1
October 20
Last 16
75kg Leona Houlihan (Ireland) beat Garza Fallon (USA) W/O
Last 32
64kg Stephen Lockhart (Ireland) lost to Zang Shuang (China) 0-5
69kg Ross Hickey (Ireland) lost to Miliusha Dzmitry (Belarus) RSCI1
75kg Michael Connelly (Ireland) lost to Golembiewski Bartosz (Poland) 0-5
Irish squad
Team Manager Comdt: Adrian Watson (Roscommon)
Head coach: Sgt John Molloy (7th Batt) (Offaly)
Coach: Phil Sutcliffe
75kg: Cpl Leona Houlihan (Dublin)
64kg: Pte Stephen Lockhart (7th Dublin)
69kg: Pte, Ross Hickey (Kildare)
75kg: Lt Mike Connelly (Galway)
81kg: Tpr Brian Kennedy (Offaly)
91kg: Pte Danny O’Brien (Dublin)
91kg+: Pte Antoine O Gríofa (Galway)
