Michael Nevin and Gabriel Dossen showed their class to join Christopher O’Reilly in the quarter-finals of the AIBA World Youth Championships in St Petersburg, Russia today.

But Limerick duo Kevin Sheehy and Paddy Donovan bowed out at the last 16 stage at the Sibur Arena.

Nevin progressed to the last-eight at the expense of France’s Moreno Fendero.

The Irish middleweight, constantly changing the point of attack, dominated the first two rounds of the 75kg contest with simple but very effective combinations against  his up tempo opponent.

Nevin switched to the body in the third, the Portlaoise BC man finding the target up to eight times en route to the last-eight.

Donovan was unlucky to be on the wrong side of a split decision to Azei lightweight Sarkhan Aliyev.

The 2015 World Junior silver medallist clipped home some excellent backhands throughout the contest and also had the confidence to fire home a number of body shots in the final two rounds against lively and hard-working opposition.

Sheehy had a good first frame against Azerbaijan’s Mahammad Abdullayev. The Shannonsider started well, a big right hook winging its way home within seconds of the start. He also  used his jab to good effect.

But the Azeri, occasionally switching stances and pressurising the Irish super-heavy constantly, dominated rounds two and three.

Hugo MiCallef won Monaco’s first ever AIBA bout at any level in the preliminaries in St Petersburg, but he didn’t make that two on-the-trot against Olympic BC light-welter Dossen today.

After a cagey start, the Galway southpaw worked his way well into this contest, established control and delivered some excellent backhands and hooks in all three rounds.

O’Reilly, Nevin and Dossen will fight for at least bronze tomorrow.

AIBA World Youth Championships St Petersburg, Russia

(Last 32 unless stated)

November 18th

60kg Paddy Donovan (Ireland) beat Damian Durkacz (Poland) 5-0
69kg Brett McGinty (Ireland) beat Kuattisak Promchuay (Thailand) TKO3
81kg Christopher O’Reilly (Ireland) beat Kim Taek Min (Korea) 5-0

November 19th

49kg Jordan Moore (Ireland) beat Salah Imberahim (Germany) 5-0
52kg Conor Quinn (Ireland) lost to Elio Crespo-Santos (Cuba) 0-5
56kg Eamer Coughlan (Ireland) lost to Toltayayev Samatav (Kazakhstan) 1-4

November 20th

60kg Paddy Donovan (Ireland) beat Ranjo Napoles (Philippines) 5-0
69kg Brett McGinty (Ireland) lost to Andrej Csemez (Slovakia) 2-3
75kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) beat Matej Uremovic (Croatia) 5-0

November 21st

49kg Jordan Moore (Ireland) lost to Carlo Paalan (Philippines) 1-4
64kg Gabriel Dossen (Ireland) beat Freudis Rojas Jnr. (USA) 4-1
81kg Christopher O’Reilly (Ireland) beat Krenar Aliu (Finland) (last 16) 4-1

November 22nd

(Last 16)

60kg Paddy Donovan (Ireland) lost to Sarkhan Aliyev (Azerbaijan) split
64kg Gabriel Dossen (Ireland) beat Hugo MiCallef (Monaco) 5-0
75kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) beat Moreno Fendero (France) 5-0
91kg+ Kevin Sheehy (Ireland) lost to Mahammad Abdullayev (Azerbaijan) 0-5

November 23rd

Q/Finals

64kg Gabriel Dossen (Ireland) v Rohan Polanco (Dominican Republic)
75kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) v Vytautas Balsys (Lithuania)
81kg Christopher O’Reilly (Ireland) v Bekzad Nurdaueltov (Kazakhstan)

Irish squad

49kg Jordan Moore (Glasnevin)
52kg Conor Quinn (Clonard)
56kg Eamer Coughlan (Riverstown)
60kg Patrick Donovan (OLOL)
64kg Gabriel Dossen (Olympic)
69kg Brett McGinty (Oakleaf) Cpt
75kg Michael Nevin (Portlaoise)
81kg Christopher O’Reilly (Bracken)
91+kg Kevin Sheehy (St Francis)

Team manager: Stephen Connolly

Coaches: Billy McClean and John Conlan
R&J: Ben McGarrigle

Christina Desmond, pictured, meets France’s Maily Nicar at approximately 6pm (Irish time) tomorrow for a place in the middleweight final at the 2016 European Elite Women’s Championships.

England’s Natasha Gale and Wales’ Lauren Price go head-to-head in the corresponding 75kg semi-final at the 10th edition of the tournament in Sofia.

Please click here for semi-final program.

Desmond and Nicar clash over four, two minute rounds with Desmond aiming to become the first Irish female boxer besides Katie Taylor to reach a European Elte final.

The Cork southpaw, an AIBA World Youth silver medallist, became the first Irish boxer – male or female –  to claim a medal (bronze) at the World University Championships in Thailand last month.

The Irish Youth Olympian also beat World No. 2 ranked middleweight Nouchka Fontijn of the Netherlands at the European Rio 2016 qualifiers in Turkey earlier this year.

Fontijn bounced back from that reversal and eventually qualified for Rio but had to settle of silver after she lost to America’s two-time Olympic champion Claressa Shields in the middleweight final at the 31st Olympiad.

Katie Taylor (six gold), Clare Grace (one bronze) and Desmond (at least one bronze) are the only Irsh female boxers to medal at the European Elite Championshps.

Taylor’s decision to turn pro means there will be a new name on the European lightweght title for the first time in over a decade after Wednesday’ finals.

But the destination of the European mddleweight gold medal is still very much up for grabs and the IABA wishes its Elite champion, Christina Desmond, the very best of luck in Sofia.

European Women’s Elite Championships Sofia, Bulgaria

(Last 16 bouts unless stated)

November 15th

54kg Dervla Duffy (Ireland) lost to Lacramiora Perijoc (Romania) 0-3

November 16th

48kg Lauren Hogan (Ireland) lost to Ekaterina Pinigiana (Russia) 0-3

69kg Grainne Walsh (Ireland) beat Marija Petovic (Serbia) TKO3

November 17th

60kg Shauna O’Keeffe (Ireland) beat Aneta Rygielska (Poland) 3-0

November 18th

57kg Moira McElligott (Ireland) beat Sara Beram (Croatia) 3-0

64kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) lost to Aleksandra Ordina (Russia) 1-2

November 19th

Q/Finals

60kg Shauna O’Keeffe (Ireland) lost to Daria Abramova (Russia) 0-3

November 20th

Q/Finals

57kg Moira McElligott (Ireland) v Natalya Samokhina (Russia) 0-3
69kg Grainne Walsh (Ireland) lost to Saadat Abdulaeva (Russia) 0-2
75kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) beat Oksana Trofimova (Russia) 3-0

November 22nd

S/Finals

75kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) v Maily Nicar (France)
75kg Natasha Gale (England) v Lauren Price (Wales)

Irish Squad

48kg Lauren Hogan (St.Brigids Edenderry)
54kg Dervla Duffy (Mulhuddart)
57kg Moira McElliggot (St Michael’s Athy)
60kg Shauna O’Keeffe (Clonmel)
64kg Kellie Harrington (Glasnevin)
69kg Grainne Walsh (Sparticus)
75kg Christina Desmond (Fr Horgans)
Team manager: Noreen Glendening
Physio: Caoimhe Gilmore
Coaches: Zaur Antia, Eddie Bolger, Dmitri Dimitruc
R&J: Sadie Duffy

World Youth venue

Christopher O’Reilly is within striking distance of the medals at the World Youths after winning his last 16 bout in St Petersburg today.

The Irish light-heavy beat Krenar Aliu of Finland on a split decision to become the first Irish boxers to make the quarter-finals at the 63-nation tournament.

Aliu had the height and reach advantage this afternoon, but O’Reilly persistently stepped inside his opponent’s raking jab to delver the punches that booked his place in the last-eight.

Earlier, Gabriel Dossen produced a massive third round to advance to the last-16.

The Olympic BC light-welter beat Freudis Rojas Jnr. of the USA on a split decision to advance following an excellent contest between the Galway and Las Vegas southpaws.

With both young men flashing home shots in the opening two frames, the fight was in the balance going into the third, but the Irish champion found the target with a flurry of combinations going down the final stretch to seal victory.

Irish light-fly Jordan Moore was edged out by Carlo Paalan of the Philippines this morning. A close fight with both boxers finding the target throughout.Paalan earned a split decision.

Dossen, Paddy Donovan, Michael Nevin and Kevin Sheehy are in action tomorrow in St Petersburg.

AIBA World Youth Championships St Petersburg, Russia

(Last 32 unless stated)

November 18th

60kg Paddy Donovan (Ireland) beat Damian Durkacz (Poland) 5-0
69kg Brett McGinty (Ireland) beat Kuattisak Promchuay (Thailand) TKO3
81kg Christopher O’Reilly (Ireland) beat Kim Taek Min (Korea) 5-0

November 19th

49kg Jordan Moore (Ireland) beat Salah Imberahim (Germany) 5-0
52kg Conor Quinn (Ireland) lost to Elio Crespo-Santos (Cuba) 0-5
56kg Eamer Coughlan (Ireland) lost to Toltayayev Samatav (Kazakhstan) 1-4

November 20th

60kg Paddy Donovan (Ireland) beat Ranjo Napoles (Philippines) 5-0
69kg Brett McGinty (Ireland) lost to Andrej Csemez (Slovakia) 2-3
75kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) beat Matej Uremovic (Croatia) 5-0

November 21st

49kg Jordan Moore (Ireland) lost to Carlo Paalan (Philippines) 1-4
64kg Gabriel Dossen (Ireland) beat Freudis Rojas Jnr. (USA) 4-1
81kg Christopher O’Reilly (Ireland) beat Krenar Aliu (Finland) (last 16) 4-1

November 22nd

(Last 16)

60kg Paddy Donovan (Ireland) v Sarkhan Aliyev (Azerbaijan)
64kg Gabriel Dossen (Ireland) v Hugo MiCallef (Montenegro)
75kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) v Moreno Fendero (France)
91kg+ Kevin Sheehy (Ireland) v Mahammad Abdullayev (Azerbaijan)

November 23rd

Q/Final

81kg Christopher O’Reilly (Ireland) v Bekzad Nurdaueltov (Kazakhstan)

Irish squad

49kg Jordan Moore (Glasnevin)
52kg Conor Quinn (Clonard)
56kg Eamer Coughlan (Riverstown)
60kg Patrick Donovan (OLOL)
64kg Gabriel Dossen (Olympic)
69kg Brett McGinty (Oakleaf) Cpt
75kg Michael Nevin (Portlaoise)
81kg Christopher O’Reilly (Bracken)
91+kg Kevin Sheehy (St Francis)

Team manager: Stephen Connolly

Coaches: Billy McClean and John Conlan
R&J: Ben McGarrigle

Semi-final program

boxing2016-eubc-european-confederation-womens-boxing-championships-day7-schedule

Up the Rebel County!

Cork middleweight Christina Desmond, pictured, guaranteed Ireland at least bronze at the European Elite Women’s Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria today.

The Leeside southpaw beat Russia’s Oksana Trofimova to book her place in Tuesday’s semi-finals versus France.

Earlier today, Grainne Walsh and Moira McElliggot lost to Russian opponents in the feather and welter classes despite big performances, Walsh edged on a split.

Desmond, the last Irish boxer in the ring this afternoon, earned an unanimous decision – one judge gave her a 10-8 round – after four, two minute frames in the Bulgarian capital.

The Irish Youth Olympian, consistently finding the target with solid combinations in a hard-punching 75kg duel, was full value for her victory and joins Katie Taylor (six gold) and Clare Grace (1 bronze) as the third Irishwoman to medal at this level.

The Irish coaching staff hailed her performance, with head coach Zaur Antia saying she gave it everything and she’ll be aiming to upgrade the colour of her medal on Tuesday. Antia also praised the performances of Walsh and McElliggot.

Sportingly, Desmond held down the ropes to allow her opponent exit the ring this afternoon and then punched the air with delight before waving to her small – but very vociferous – band of supporters in the stands.

A number of weeks ago, Desmond, a World Youth silver medallist, became the first Irish boxer to win a medal (bronze) at the World University Championships in Thailand.

On Tuesday she’ll be aiming to become the only Irishwoman besides Taylor to reach a European Elite final.

European Women’s Championships Sofia, Bulgaria

(Last 16 bouts unless stated)

November 15th

54kg Dervla Duffy (Ireland) lost to Lacramiora Perijoc (Romania) 0-3

November 16th

48kg Lauren Hogan (Ireland) lost to Ekaterina Pinigiana (Russia) 0-3

69kg Grainne Walsh (Ireland) beat Marija Petovic (Serbia) TKO3

November 17th

60kg Shauna O’Keeffe (Ireland) beat Aneta Rygielska (Poland) 3-0

November 18th

57kg Moira McElligott (Ireland) beat Sara Beram (Croatia) 3-0

64kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) lost to Aleksandra Ordina (Russia) 1-2

November 19th

Q/Finals

60kg Shauna O’Keeffe (Ireland) lost to Daria Abramova (Russia) 0-3

November 20th

Q/Finals

57kg Moira McElligott (Ireland) lost to Natalya Samokhina (Russia) 0-3
69kg Grainne Walsh (Ireland) lost to Saadat Abdulaeva (Russia) 1-2
75kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) beat Oksana Trofimova (Russia) 3-0

November 22nd

S/Finals

75kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) v Maily Nicar (France)

Irish Squad
48kg Lauren Hogan (St.Brigids Edenderry)
54kg Dervla Duffy (Mulhuddart)
57kg Moira McElliggot (St Michael’s Athy)
60kg Shauna O’Keeffe (Clonmel)
64kg Kellie Harrington (Glasnevin)
69kg Grainne Walsh (Sparticus)
75kg Christina Desmond (Fr Horgans) (Bronze, at least)
Team manager: Noreen Glendening
Physio: Caoimhe Gilmore
Coaches: Zaur Antia, Eddie Bolger, Dmitri Dimitruc
R&J: Sadie Duffy