Sweeney to make WSB Debut in London this Thursday

Galway heavyweight Gary Sweeney flew out to London today ahead of his World Series of Boxing (WSB) debut for the Mexico Guerreros on Thursday night.

The Olympic BC ace, the 2014 National Elite champion, will meet an opponent to be confirmed(likely to be Romania’s Ionut-Mirel Jitaru) over five, three minute rounds at the iconic York Hall in the mid-table Group A clash.

Meanwhile, Italia Thunder pair Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan depart for Kazakhstan’s tonight ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Astana Arlans in Kazakhstan.

The Arlans have yet to name opponents for the Belfast duo, but with both Irish boxers at the top or near the top of the light-fly and bantam WSB individual rankings, the Kazakh side will almost certainly name their top boxers for the visit of the London 2012 bronze medallists.

Irish coach John Conlan, describing Saturday’s match in Central Asia as crucial, said that they will have a much clearer picture in regards to qualifying for Rio 2016 from the WSB after this weekend.

Conlan, father to Michael Conlan, and fellow Irish coaches Zuar Antia and Eddie Bolger will be working the corners in Kazakhstan and at York Hall.