Darren O’Neill (blue) in action
The Irish Elite squad arrived in Baku, Azerbaijan in the early hours of this morning for a training camp ahead of the crucial World Olympic qualifier which begins in Baku on June 14th.
Darren O’Neill and Dean Gardiner will line out at heavyweight and super-heavyweight at the qualifier.
The four-strong team for the penultimate Rio 2016 qualifier in the Azeri capital will be confirmed on June 10th.
Ireland’s six male Rio 2016 Olympians, Paddy Barnes, Brendan Irvine, Michael Conlan, David Oliver Joyce, Steven Donnelly and Joe Ward are with the 12-strong panel in Baku for training purposes.
The host nation, Ireland, Morocco, Costa Rico and a number of other nations are taking part in the Baku camp ahead of a tournament which will yield 39 Olympic places.
Presently, Irish male boxing has secured 60% of the Rio 2016 places available across the ten weight classes.
Katie Taylor has also qualified for Rio 2016 at lightweight, one of the three Olympic weights for women.
Irish squad Baku Training Camp
49kg Paddy Barnes (Holy Family)
52kg Brendan Irvine (St Paul’s)
56kg Michael Conlan (Clonard)
60kg David Oliver Joyce (St Michael’s Athy & AIBA Pro Boxing)
64kg Dean Walsh (St Joseph’s/St Ibars)
64kg Ray Moylette (St Anne’s)
69kg Steven Donnell (All Saints)
75kg Michael O’Reilly (Portlaoise)
75kg Connor Wallace (St Monicas)
81kg Joe Ward (Moate & AIBA Pro Boxing)
91kg Darren O’Neill (Paulstown)
91+kg Dean Gardiner (Clonmel)
World Qualifier Baku, Azerbaijan June 14th/26th
Total Olympic Places: 39
Light-fly: 2
Fly: 5
Bantam: 5
Lightweight: 5
Light-welter: 5
Welter: 5
Middle: 5
Light-heavy: 5
Heavy: 1
Super-heavy: 1
World Series of Boxing v AIBA Pro Boxing Qualifier (dates and host city to be decided for June or July)
Total Olympic places: 26
Light-fly: 3
Fly: 3
Bantam: 3
Lightweight: 3
Light-welter: 3
Welter: 3
Middle: 3
Light-heavy: 3
Heavy: 1
Super-heavy: 1
Tripartite Commission (Invitation places)
Total Olympics places: 8 (5 for men and 3 for women)
Irish boxers qualified
Women
51kg (Flyweight) Not qualified
60kg (Lightweight) – Katie Taylor (Bray)
75kg (Middleweight) Not qualified
Men
49kg (Light-flyweight) – Paddy Barnes (Holy Family)
52kg (Flyweight) – Brendan Irvine (St Paul’s)
56kg (Bantamweight) – Michael Conlan (Clonard)
60kg (Lightweight) – David Oliver Joyce (St Michael’s Athy & AIBA Pro Boxing)
64kg (Light-welterweight) –
69kg (Welterweight) – Steven Donnelly (All Saints)
75kg (Middleweight) –
81kg (Light-heavyweight) – Joe Ward (Moate & AIBA Pro Boxing)
91kg (Heavyweight) –
91+kg (Super-heavyweight) –