Kiril Afansev will be aiming to join Kieran Molloy in the last four of the EU Championships in Valladolid, Spain today.
The Dubliner, who has won one bout in Spain so far, meets Croatia’s World Series of Boxing heavyweight Toni Filipi with at least bronze up from grabs.
Both men will be in the ring at approximately 4.20pm (Irish time).
Ireland experienced mixed fortunes yesterday with Galway welterweight Molloy winning but Portlaoise BC light-welter Wayne Kelly bowing out after an extremely close three rounder with Moldova’s 2013 European Elite finalist Dmitry Galogot who has beaten Dean Walsh and Ross Hickey in the past.
Galogot will now face Luke McCormack, whose twin brother Pat goee head-to-head with Molloy, in the last four in Spain.
Kelly, who asked some serious questions of the Moldovan southpaw on Tuesday, believes he should have got the verdict.
”Thought I should have got the decision.But me and my team are happy with my performance and my improvements over the year. We will continue to develop for the next two years for Tokyo 2020. We have high hopes and our sights on bigger glory in 2019,” he said.
EU Elite Championships Valladolid, Spain
November 9
Prelims (Last 16)
52kg Conor Quinn (Ireland) lost to Rosenov Banbakov (Bulgaria) 1-4
56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Stefan Ivanov (Bulgaria) 5-0
91kg+ Dean Gardiner (Ireland) lost to Frazer Clarke (England) 1-4
November 10
Prelims (last 16)
69kg Kieran Molloy (Ireland) beat Ruben Veciunoa (Belgium) 5-0
91kg Kiril Afanasev (Ireland) beat David Michalek (Slovakia) 4-1
November 11th
Prelims (last 16)
64kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) beat Petr Novak (Czech Republic) 5-0
November 12
Prelims (last 16)
75kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) beat Stepan Nikitin (Germany) 5-0
November 13
Q/Finals
64kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) lost to Dmitry Galogot (Moldova) 0-5
69kg Kieran Molloy (Ireland) beat Vincenzo Arecchiai (Italy) 3-1
November 14
Q/Finals
91kg Kiril Afanasev (Ireland) v Toni Filipi (Croatia)
November 15
Q/Finals
56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) v Jaroslav Iwanow (Poland)
75kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) v Carl Fail (England)
November 17
S/Finals
69kg Kieran Molloy (Ireland) V Pat McCormack (England)
Irish squad
52kg Conor Quinn (Clonard BC)
56kg Kurt Walker (Canal BC)
64kg Wayne Kelly (Portlaoise BC)
69kg Kieran Molloy (Oughterard BC) (Bronze, at least)
75kg Michael Nevin (Portlaoise BC)
91kg Kirill Afanasev (Smithfield BC)
91kg+ Dean Gardiner (Clonmel BC) Cpt
Team Manager: Stephen Molloy
Coaches: John Conlan & Eoin Pluck
Physiotherapist: Seamus Caffrey
Team Doctor: Jim Clover- Team Doctor
Sports Physiologist: Damian Martin
Referee & Judge: Jim Murrin- R&J