World Championships Day 6 Preview

It’s colour-changing time in Doha at the 18th AIBA World Boxing Championships. Yesterday Ireland had a record-breaking day, guaranteeing three glorious bronze medals for Michael Conlan, Michael O’Reilly, and Joe Ward. Today at the 7,700-seater Ali Bin Hamas Al Attiya Arena-Al Sadd both Michael’s are in semi-final action and aim to guarantee at least silver.

First up at 5:45pm (Irish time) it’s captain Mick Conaln. The Belfast bantamweight was flawless yesterday against Azeri youngster Tayfur Aliyev and today faces awkward Belorussian Dzmitry Asanau. The Eastern European fighter had a dubious win yesterday over Cuba’s Andy Cruz, and Conlan should have too much in every department. This is reflected in the odds which have Conlan a 3/10 favourite (Asanau – 11/5).

Then, at 6:45 (Irish time), it is the turn of middleweight Michael O’Reilly. The Portlaoise BC had a sensational split decision win yesterday against the reigning world champion, Zhanibek Alimkhanuly of Kazakhstan, and will need to be on top of his game today against Uzbekistani phenom Bektemir Melikuziev. We are massive fans of O’Reilly here, but we believe the Uzbek, a recent Youth World and Olympic gold medalist, has been done a disservice by the bookies. In what is sure to be a 50:50 fight, O’Reilly has been priced a prohibitive 2/5 favourite, with Melikuziev a 7/4 outsider.

Joe Ward is in action tomorrow evening.

Bets can be placed HERE.