Team Ireland Paris Olympian, heavyweight Jack Marley, rounded off an excellent second day of boxing at the Strandja Memorial Tournament with his feet firmly on the podium.
He secured a 3-2 win over China’s JiLei Zhang and will box his semi final either Uzbekistan and England.
222 athletes are contesting the competion: 143 men and 79 women boxers, from 22 federations, including Ireland: Algeria, Austrian,Azerbaijan, Bulgaria Chinese Taipei, China (Inner Mongolia), Croatia, Cyprus, England, France, Hungary, Greece, Georgia, Italy, Israel, Kosovo, Pakistan, Slovakia, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Wales.
Team Ireland now has at least two medals: 48kg Ciara Walsh has been draw in the semi finals, and will come home at least a bronze medal.
Four more Team Ireland boxers have won quarter final berths following preliminary bouts today: A statement win super-heavy, Gus Ide. He came back from losing the 1st round to record a 4-1 split decision win over Uzbekistan’s Arman Makhonov.
Paris Olympian, Team Ireland 63.5kg Dean Clancy, is through to the Quarter Finals following a 5-0 preliminaries win over Uzbekistan’s Sayat Ilyasov. Dean will box his QF on Thursday. He’s joined there by Team Ireland team-mate and weight-mate, 63.5kg Jason Nevin, who won through to the quarter finals with a 3-2 win over China’s Melia Na.
Also boxing for a medal on Thursday will be 80kg James Whelan, courtesy of a 5-0 win over China’s Ye Erobolweishhan.
A brave performance by Team Ireland’s 75kg Gavin Rafferty but not to be on this occasion, following a testing, learning bout against Azerbaijan’s Mishariff Kazimada. A similar fate for 75kg Josh Olaniyan contesting against Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Ummataliev, the reigning Asian Champ, and U22 silver medalist. While 86kg Brian Kennedy left it all in the ring against France’s Aboulaye Traore, and comes away with an invaluable learning experience.
Day Three
6 Team Ireland boxers are between the ropes on Wednesday.
In Bout 2 of Ring A’s Afternoon Session, 50kg Shannon Sweeney, the reigning European Champion meets France’s Moulai Romane at the Quarter Final stage. In Bout 7, European U23 champ, 54kg Patsy Joyce first steps between the ropes against Uzbekistan’s Shakzod Muzafarov.
In Ring B’s Afternoon Session, 57kg Niamh Fay contests against Turkey’s Asude Ece Ediz in the last 8 – that’s Bout 3. 9 bouts later, in Bout 12, superheavy Gus Ide is back in action, against Kazakhstan’s Aibek Oralbay
In Ring B’s Evening Session, 54kg Chloe Gabriel contests againt Kazakh opposition, in the form of Symbat Aliashkar – that’s Bout 3. While in Bout 5, 63kg Linda Desmond makes her Strandja debut at QF stage against England’s Sasha Hickey .
Programme
Watch
The Bulgarian Boxing Federation is streaming the tournament live on its YouTube channel. Links, per ring and session, will be published on the day of boxing.
Boxing in the Afternoon Session begins at 12pm, Irish time, while the evening sessions gets underway at 3.30pm.
Team Ireland
48kg Ciara Walsh, Smithfield Boxing Club Dublin
50kg Shannon Sweeney, St. Anne’s BC, Westport Mayo
54kg Chloe Gabriel, Dublin Docklands BC
57kg Niamh Fay, Phoenix of Ballyboughal BC, Dublin
63kg Linda Desmond, Rylane BC, Cork
48kg Louis Rooney, Star ABC, Belfast
54kg Patsy Joyce, Olympic BC Mullingar
60kg Rhys Owens, Erne BC, Fermanagh
60kg Adam Hession, Monivea BC, Galway, Team Captain.
63.5kg Jason Nevin, Olympic BC Mullingar
63.5kg Dean Clancy, Sean McDermott BC, Leitrim
67kg Darren O’Connor, Olympic BC, Galway
75kg Gavin Rafferty, Dublin Docklands
75kg Josh Olaniyan, Jobstown BC, Dublin
80kg James Whelan, Dublin Docklands
86kg Brian Kennedy, St Brigid’s BC, Edenderry, Offaly
92kg Jack Marley, Monkstown BC, Dublin
92+kg Gus Ide, Crumlin BC, Dublin.
Team Manager: Sean Crowley
Head Coach: Zauri Antia
Coach: Lynne McEnery
Coach: Jay Delaney
Physio: Rob Tuomey
R&J: Mal Scott.
Drawsheets are available here