Munster duo into World Junior Championships finals
By Bernard O’Neill – IABA Press Officer
Cork’s Eamer Coughlan and Limerick’s Paddy Donovan are both through to Saturday’s finals at the AIBA World Junior Championships in St Petersburg Russia.
The Munster duo, both southpaws, claimed split decision victories today to upgrade their guaranteed bronze medals to at least silver, but Dubliner Paul Ryan had to settle for bronze after a brave display in his semi-final.
Donovan, Our Lady of Lourdes BC, hammered out a thrilling win over the Harley Mederos of the USA, the Shannonsider deservedly earning 29-28,29-28,28-29 verdict in the lightweight class. He’ll now meet Turkey’s Tugrulhan Erdemir, who beat Cuba’s Edel Garcia-Acosta today, for 60kg gold tomorrow.
Coughlan, Rivertown BC, produced another power-packed display against Uzbekistan’s Halmbek Utegenov. Ultimately, Coughlan’s cleaner and more solid shots sealed this win. Two of the judges gave the Leesider all three rounds – 30-27 each – but a third leaned 29-28 in favour of the Uzbek light-fly.
Ryan was beaten on a split decision by Uzbekistan’s Dilshodbek Ruzmetov after three close frames this afternoon.
Coughlan and Donovan now join an illustrious Irish group which includes Joe Ward (2009),Willie Donoghue (2013), Ciara Ginty (2013) and current WBO World middleweight champion Andy Lee (2002), who all reached AIBA World Junior finals.
“Twenty six kids of the four hundred and twenty one boxers from throughout the world that entered this tournament will weigh-in for Saturday’s finals and two of them are Irish. That’s a fantastic achievement, said coach Billy McClean, who is working Ireland’s corner with Fergal McKenna and Dimitry Dmitruk.
“They each gave it everything today. We have twelve boxers in action here and 25% of them have finished amongst the medals.
“It’s a tremendous boost for the clubs and their coaches and what for we have achieved out here and the IABA High Performance Unit. We’re under no illusion that our boys will be up against very tough opponents tomorrow, but their confidence is high going into the finals. We’re very much still standing here, another proud day.”
Team Ireland are due to arrive home via Dublin Airport on Sunday night at 9.10pm. Flight – KLM KL3161 13SEP Amsterdam Dublin 2030 2110
AIBA World Junior Championships St Petersburg, Russia
September 4th
80+kg Martin J Mongan (Ireland) lost to Dmitri Fominykh (Russia) 0-3
September 5th
48kg Eamer Coughlan (Ireland) beat Suntatullo Yunuszade (Tajikistan) 3-0
57kg Eric Nash (Ireland) lost to Ivan Atanasov (Bulgaria) 1-2
63kg Jack Conroy (Ireland) lost to Yibukayimu Mamuti (China) 0-3
70kg Tommy Hyde (Ireland) beat Lukas Petrauskas (Lithuania) 3-0
September 6th
46kg Craig Kavanagh (Ireland) lost to Rustan Muratov (Kyrgyzstan) 0-3
50kg Joe Nevin (Ireland) beat Zabehullo Ashuroz (Tajikistan) 3-0
54kg Sean Purcell (Ireland) beat David Toth (Hungary) 3-0
66kg Paul Ryan (Ireland) beat Ahtamjon Khaidov (Tajikistan) 3-0
September 7th
50kg Joe Nevin (Ireland) lost to Ray Diaz (USA) 1-2 (Last 16)
52kg Aaron McKenna (Ireland) beat Abibe Bennams (France) 3-0
60kg Paddy Donovan (Ireland) beat Abylay Ybraimov (Kazakhstan) 3-0
70kg Tommy Hyde (Ireland) beat Djallal Bouchkouk (Algeria) 3-0 (last 16)
80kg Jimmy O’Reilly (Ireland) lost to Vladislav Ivanov (Russia) 0-3 (last 16)
September 8th (last 16)
48kg Eamer Coughlan (Ireland) beat Lewis Cooley (England) TKO3
52kg Aaron McKenna (Ireland) lost to Samatali Toltayev (Kazakhstan) 1-2
54kg Sean Purcell (Ireland) beat Namoja Gavrilovic (Serbia) 3-0
60kg Paddy Donovan (Ireland) beat Koryan Astoyan (Armenia) 3-0
66kg Paul Ryan (Ireland) beat Joshua Mataele (Trinidad & Tobago) 3-0
75kg Anthony Johnston (Ireland) lost to Cristhian Pinder (Cuba) W/O
September 9th
Q/Finals
48kg Eamer Coughlan (Ireland) beat Pasquale Di Sivo (Italy) TKO3
54kg Sean Purcell (Ireland) lost to Taras Bondarchuk (Ukraine) 0-3
60kg Paddy Donovan (Ireland) beat Marrambek Kaikuev (Kyrgyzstan) 3-0
66kg Paul Ryan (Ireland) beat Milan Prat (France) 3-0
70kg Tommy Hyde (Ireland) lost to Bayren Malkan (Turkey) 0-3
September 11th
S/Finals
48kg Eamer Coughlan (Ireland) beat Halmbek Utegenov (Uzbekistan) 2-1
60kg Paddy Donovan (Ireland) beat Harley Mederos (USA) 2-1
66kg Paul Ryan (Ireland) lost to Dilshodbek Ruzmetov (Uzbekistan) 1-2
September 12th
Finals
48kg Eamer Coughlan (Ireland) v Illia Popov (Russia)
60kg Paddy Donovan (Ireland) v Tugrulhan Erdemir (Turkey)
Irish squad
46kg Craig Kavanagh (Crumlin)
48kg Eamer Coughlan (Riverstown) (Silver, at least)
50kg Joe Nevin (Kilcullen)
52kg Aaron McKenna (Old School) cpt
54kg Sean Purcell (Marble City)
57kg Eric Nash (Ardnaree)
60kg Paddy Donovan (OLOL) (Silver, at least)
63kg Jack Conroy (Mullingar)
66kg Paul Ryan (Bay City) (Bronze)
70kg Tommy Hyde (Setanta)
75kg Anthony Johnston (Gleann)
80kg Jimmy O’Reilly (Portlaoise)
80+kg Martin J Mongan (Ennis)
Team Manager Paddy Osbourne
Coaches Billy McClean, Dmitry Dmitruk, Fergal McKenna
