Race for Tokyo – Olympic hopeful Gabriel Dossen undergoes surgery
Galway middleweight Gabriel Dossen has undergone knee surgery and now faces something of a race against time to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics next year.
The reigning Irish Senior Elite champion last week went under the knife to repair a torn meniscus and has revealed he will have to come through a “three to four month” recovery period.
Dossen suffered an initial injury – a knock of knees in sparring – during the National Championships in February but still managed to overcome Brett McGinty and Emmet Brennan to claim a maiden Senior title.
Things would not go to plan in the European Under-22s in March and the ever-worsening injury would rule Dossen out of the European Games in June. Michael Nevin, whom Dossen had edged in the National quarter-finals, would be sent instead and brought home an impressive bronze medal.
It’s a big year for Irish amateur boxing as our Olympic hopefuls begin qualification for the 2020 Olympics.
Eight new national boxing champions were crowned back in January, and all will be attempting to qualify for the Tokyo Games. Galway middleweight Gabriel Dossen is one. pic.twitter.com/yl7MGK8UE3
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 15, 2019
It is likely that Nevin will now also head to the World Championships in Ekterinberg, Russia, next month as Dossen recovers.
The Olympic BC talent is hopeful that he wll be back in the ring in time for the 2020 National Elite Championships which will take place at the end of this year.
This edition will perhaps be the most crucial Seniors in recent memory due to the condensed nature of Olympic qualification for 2020 – with just continental qualifiers in February (with the European tournament in London) and a World qualifier in Tokyo in June.
Posting on social media, Dossen explained how “I’ll be out for the next 3-4 months and unfortunately I’ll miss the World Elite Championships but my aim is to be back for the National Elite Championships to defend my title and go forward to the Olympic Qualifiers early next year. In the meantime I’ll be ticking over and keep myself fit and in shape through rehab therapy.”
“I’d like to thank the team in Santry Sports clinic for looking after me yesterday and also everyone in the HP Unit in Abbotstown for their support. Looking forward to getting back and seeing how the future unfolds.”
Dossen, who is still only 19 years of age, is a former World and European Youth bronze winner, won Best Boxer at the 2018 Haringey Box Cup, and has been tipped by Mick Conlan as a potential Olympic medallist.
Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)
