WSB Irish Latest

IABA Press Officer Bernard O’Neil

JOHN Joe Nevin’s Paris United lost out to Mexico City in the World Series of Boxing on Saturday. Nevin wasn’t in the United side for the away clash on a night the defending champions dropped a 4-0 loss after the Juan Mercado versus Adriani Vastine fight was ruled a technical draw after Mercado suffered a severe cut over one of his eyes following an accidental clash of heads.

Ken Egan and Con Sheehan’s Leipzig Leopards weren’t in action over the weekend because their match with China’s Wuxi Dragons was cancelled. David Oliver Joyce’s Istanbul Bosphorous lost 3-2 at home to Group A table-toppers Baku Fires, while Patrick Gallagher’s Mumbai Fighters were beaten 5-0 by Moscow Dynamo.

Neither Irish boxer was in action for the Turkish or Indian sides at the weekend. Meanwhile, Willie McLaughlin and Sean Tuner were on opposing sides when Milano Thunder hosted Los Angeles Matadors on Friday, Thunder winning 4-1 to go joint top of Group B with Dynamo Moscow.

McLaughlin, from the Illies GG BC in Donegal, produced a fine performance on his WSB debut to beat Zaal Kvachatadze of Georgia on points, but Turner lost out to Poland’s Michal Olas. However, despite the defeat Turner, who boxes out of the Drimnagh BC club in Dublin and who was making his WSB debut for LA, won the “Buzz of the Week” accolades on the WSB site.

It said. “Turner looked comfortable in the ring, dominating from the centre of the canvas and doing some serious damage with some stinging hooks. However, stamina is an essential part of any boxer’s make-up and midway through each round the positive Turner would sag and leave himself exposed, a fact well exploited by Milan’s Michel Olas. Despite losing, Turner’s demeanour and presence in the ring ensured a new fan base for himself. Let’s hope he can learn from his first WSB match and make his mark in the competition.”