MICK DOWLING HONOURED IN CORK

26/06/2018IABA NewsIABA

The Cork County Boxing Board rolled out the red carpet for Irish boxing legend Mick Dowling on Leeside last Saturday.

The Kilkenny-born bantamweight was honoured form his services to the sport at a Boxing Breakfast in the Rebel County to mark the 50th anniversary of his appearance at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico.

Dowling claimed eight National Elite titles in his career and represented his country at the 68 and 1972 Games in Munich.

In 1968, he was beaten in the last-eight on a 4-1 split decision by Japan’s Eiji Marroka for at least bronze.

Four years later he was edged out on a 3-2 split to Cuba’s Orlando Martinez, the eventual gold medalist, in the quarter-finals in Mexico.

Both men, pictured below, met up in Havana in 2015 for the “rematch.”

“I was just fascinated, to drive along a street teeming with people, on a beautiful sunny day, and to spot this guy, so fit-looking, to see his smile and his wave – just to see him standing on a street in Havana, 43 years later. It was amazing,” said Dowling.

Dowling, who works as a boxing analyst with RTE, also claimed two European Elite bronze medals for Ireland.

Last weekend’s function by organised by the Cork Ex-Boxers Association.

Mick O’Brien, President of the Cork County Boxing Board, described Dowling, who received a tremendous reception in the Southern Capitol, as a true legend of Irish boxing.

Conal Thomas made a presentation to the two-time Irish Olympian on behalf of the Cork Boxing Fraternity.

Images: Conal Thomas makes a presentation to Mick Dowling and Mick Dowling in action at the Olympics and meeting Martinez in Havana

LONDON DOUBLE FOR HYDE AND DOSSEN

26/06/2018IABA NewsIABA

Gabriel Dossen in London

Galway’s Gabriel Dossen and Cork’s Tommy Hyde claimed double gold at the Haringey Box Cup in London last weekend in a remarkable double.

Dossen was also presented with the Best Male Boxer Award at Alexandria Palace.

The Olympic BC middle, a bronze medallist for Ireland at the AIBA World Youths, beat Joshua Gustave, Abdoul Chakour Toure and River Wilson-Bent en route to gold.

Olympic BC coach Mike Mongan hailed his performances.

“He came up against 3 very different opponents (style wise). He’s Quarter Final he beat a former Haringey Box Cup Champion from White Heart Lane London, he said.

“He’s Semi Final he beat Joshua Gustave from Fairbairn BC London who the Boxing News described him as dangerous and hard hitting so we knew it wasn’t going to be easy but Gabriel dealt with well and outboxed him.

“The Final was tricky because both boxers had similar styles and was a very entertaining final and thankfully Gabriel came out on top.

“Gabriel getting best Male boxer of the tournament is a testament on how good his performances was all weekend, Delighted for him and the club it was my first time back in his corner competitively since the National U22 Championships last February.”

Hyde, meantime, hammered out his own hat-trick over three days, the Rebel County light-heavy beating Dean Freeman, Leon Nihell and Manny Essex in the 81kg class.

Dossen and Hyde didn’t drop a round in the English capital.

Irish University boxing also made a huge impression in London.

Tommy Hyde

“This is my first Elite tournament so I was delighted to get three good wins against tough and older opponents, said Hyde who is now boxing out of the Mayfield BC.

“I’m still only filling into 81kg but I feel very strong and I think that showed in the final against a big strong guy. I’m learning all the time. I’m very happy with the performances and the great experience from this weekend.

“This is my second trip with Gerry O’Mahony and the rest of the Dungarvan lads; they look after us big time. I’m with Danny Fitzpatrick in Mayfield the last two months and I can feel an unreal improvement already. He’s brilliant.”

Proud dad Gary Hyde was thrilled to see his son secure gold: “Tommy boxed powerful in his three wins and we’re absolutely delighted,” said Hyde senior, a former manager to Cuba’s Olympic and world pro champion Guillermo “The Jackal” Rigondeaux.

IRISH BOXERS IMPRESS AT HARINGEY CUP

25/06/2018IABA NewsIABA

The Irish Athletic Third Level Boxing Association enjoyed tremendous success at the Haringey Box Cup witch concluded in London yesterday.

The IATBA had 5 in the final. 3 won and 2 lost, reports Irish coach and IATBA team manager Paddy Gallagher.

Ricky Nesbitt won the 52KG Elite title, Matthew McCole won 64KG Elite title and Thomas O’Toole won 75KG Elite title.

Patryk Adamus lost 3-2 to Terry McEntee (another college boxer but over with DCU) after a hugely exciting and very close 60KG Elite final.

Sean Purcell lost in the 56KG Elite final despite beating Irish No.2 Jordan Moore in the quarter final and the English No.3 in his semi-final.

Lois Walsh, Clodagh McComiskey and Jason Clancy lost in their quarter finals while Conor Jennings won his quarter but lost out in his semi final.

Overall, a very worthwhile competition for the IATBA team.

Image: Boxers, Team Manager Paul Geoghegan and coaches Shane Purcell and Paddy Gallagher (missing from picture is coach Jim McCole).

Gabriel Dossen and Tommy Hyde both won gold after tremendous performances and numerous Irish boxers competed at the tournament. Click here for results

5TH PLACE FINISH FOR IRELAND AT CHEMISTRY CUP

23/06/2018IABA NewsIABA

Ireland finished in fifth spot in the medals table at the Chemistry Cup in Halle. Germany.

Cuba, India, USA, Russia and Ireland, in that order, commanded the top five positions at the 45th edition of the tournament which concluded today.

Kiril Afanasev dropped current World Elite champion Erislandy Savon in the first round of today’s heavyweight final but the Cuban Olympic bronze medalist got off the floor to edge a 4-1 split over the Dubliner.

The Irish squad are due to arrive home at 7.40pm tomorrow night via Dublin Airport (Terminal 1).

Images of Irish boxers on podiums today.

45th Men’s Chemistry Cup Halle, Germany June 19/24

June 20th

Last 16

64kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) beat Artur Badalian (Ukraine) 5-0
75kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) lost to Vikas Krishan (India) 0-5
60kg George Bates (Ireland) beat Artur Bril (Germany) 4-1
69kg Kieran Molloy (Ireland) beat Richard Meinecke (Germany) 5-0
56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Omar El Hag (Germany) 4-1

Q/Final

52kg Conor Quinn (Ireland) beat Umar Bajwa (Germany) 5-0

June 21st

Q/Finals

56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) lost to Vasilii Vetkin (Russia) 1-4
60kg George Bates (Ireland) beat Lucas Bandi (Canada) 4-1
64kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) lost to Kastriot Sopa (Germany) 2-3
69kg Kieran Molloy (Ireland) beat Thomas Zold (Slovakia) 5-0
81kg Joe Ward (Ireland) beat Pavil Silygan (Russia) 4-1
91kg Kiril Afanasev (Ireland) beat Lucian Kohne (Germany) 5-0
91kg+ Dean Gardiner (Ireland) lost to Angel Gomez-Larduet (Cuba) 0-5

June 22

S/Final

52kg Conor Quinn (Ireland) lost to Salanki Gaurov (India) 0-5
60kg George Bates (Ireland) lost to Jorge Estrada-Alvarez (Cuba) 0-5
69kg Kieran Molloy (Ireland) lost to Iglesias Sotolongo (Cuba) 0-5
81kg Joe Ward (Ireland) lost to Julio La Cruz (Cuba) 2-3
91kg Kiril Afanasev (Ireland) beat David Michalek (Slovakia) W/O

June 23

Final

91kg Kiril Afanasev (Ireland) lost to Erislandy Savon (Cuba) 1-4

Irish Squad

52kg Conor Quinn (Clonard) (Bronze)
56kg Kurt Walker (Canal)
60kg George Bates (St Marys) (Bronze)
64kg Wayne Kelly (Portlaoise)
69kg Kieran Molloy (Oughterard) (Bronze)
75kg Michael Nevin (Portlaoise)
81kg Joe Ward (Sparticus) (Bronze)
91kg Kiril Afanasev (Smithfield) (Silver)
91+kg Dean Gardiner (Clonmel)

Head coach: Zaur Antia
Coahes: Michael Carruth, Philip Keogh, Paul Thompson
Physio: Kevin Boyd

CHEMISTRY CUP FINAL

23/06/2018IABA NewsIABA

Current World Elite champion Erislandy Savon had to get off the floor to beat Dublin heavyweight Kiril Afanasev, pictured, in the Chemistry Cup heavyweight final in Halle, Germany this afternoon.

The Irish Elite champion floored the Olympic bronze medallist in the first round but the shaken Cuban showed his experience to take rounds two and three and earn a 4-1 split decision against the Dubliner who put in a massive shift in the gold medal match at the 45th edition of the tournament.

Savon is a nephew of legendary three-time Olympic champion Felix Savon.

Afanasev will be bringing home silver for Halle. Irish captain Joe Ward, Conor Quinn, Kieran Molloy and George Bates claimed four bronze.

Ward was beaten on a 3-2 split decision in Friday’s semi-final with Cuba’s current Olympic and World heavyweight champion Julio La Cruz who was on a floor from a right hook from the Westmeath southpaw and took a count in the first round with Ward also winning the second frame.

La Cruz was sensationally KO’d in the first round by Khalil Coe of the USA in today’s 81kg decider.

“He (La Cruz) walked straight into a right hand,” said Ward who was at ringside for the final.

Meanwhile, Galway welter Molloy claimed his first Irish Elite belt at Dublin’s National in February and asked some serious questions of Cuba’s 2017 World Elite finalist and 2012 Olympic champion Iglesias Sotolongo in Halle on Friday.

“I feel it was a great learning curve to step in with the best welterweight in the world and give him all he wanted, said Molloy who lost out on a unanimous decision.

“I see myself coming on a lot from this fight and I’ll definitely not fear anyone in the world now that I know where I stand. I’m 19, by the time I’m 21 I believe that I will be the number 1 in the world.”

The squad are due to arrive home at 7.40pm tomorrow night via Dublin Airport (Terminal 1).