Nikitin Pat-ch: Galway’s Mongan to take on Mick Conlan’s Rio nemesis
Reigning Irish lightweight champion Pat Mongan will make his international debut tomorrow in high-profile circumstances.
The Olympic 60kg fighter makes his Ireland bow on Saturday night in the Dublin International Round Robin and will take on none other than Russian Vladimir Nikitin.
Nikitin claimed bantamweight bronze at the Rio Olympics last year, infamously being adjudged to have beaten Belfast boxer Mick Conlan. The result would cause something of an international outcry, with Conlan launching an expletive-laden rank and turning pro with Top Rank while the AIBA were forced to reshuffle.
Since the Games, Nikitin has made the step up to lightweight and will face Mongan tomorrow night.
The match-up forms part of the first day of action of the three-day tournament, which is being used to help prepare for the European Championships in Kharkiv in June.
Also in action at the National Stadium, Kilkenny heavyweight veteran will take on Olympic gold medalist Evgeny Tischenko. The pair are locked at one apiece following two previous bouts.
Bantamweight Kurt Walker will take on Bakhtovar Nazirov in a repeat of their opening round clash at the 2015 European Games. Nazirov would win a close split decision here before romping home to gold in Baku.
Middleweight Emmet Brennan takes on Russian Petr Khamukov, who qualified for the Rio Olympics at both middleweight and light heavyweight, eventually competing at 81kg.
Ormeau Road flyweight Carly McNaul is action earlier in the day, lining out for Germany against Roberta Mostarda.
Starting the day off at 2:00pm, the Ireland B Team take on France – Click here for line-ups.
Italy and Germany will face off at 5:30, with Ireland A taking on Russia immediately after (approximately 8:00pm)
Tickets each day cost €10 for adults and €5 for children (U14).
Ireland A v Russia
49kg Blaine Dobbins (Ireland) V Vasili Egorov (Russia)
52kg Brendan Irvine (Ireland) V Vadim Kudriakov (Russia)
56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) V Bakhtovar Nazirov (Russia)
60kg Patrick Mongan (Ireland) V Vladimir Nikitin (Russia)
64kg Sean McComb (Ireland) V Vitaly Dunaystev (Russia)
69kg Dean Walsh (Ireland) V Sergei Sobylinskii (Russia)
75kg Emmett Brennan (Ireland) V Petr Khamukov (Russia)
81kg Anthony Browne (Ireland) V Georgii Kushitshvii (Russia)
91kg Darren O’Neill (Ireland) V Evgeny Tischenko (Russia)
91+kg Martin Keenan (Ireland) V Ivan Veriasov (Russia)
