CHEMISTRY CUP DRAWS

IABA News

 

Wayne Kelly and Michael Nevin are in action in the last-eight of the Chemistry Cup in Germany this morning.

The Portlaoise BC pair meet the Ukraine and India in Halle.

George Bates, Kieran Molloy, Conor Quinn and Kurt Walker are also between the ropes today in the quarter-finals.

Day 1 will be decided over three sessions beginning at 11am, 2.30pm and 7pm (Irish times).

Joe Ward, Kiril Afansev and Dean Gardiner box Thursday.

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

June 20th

Last 16 (1st session, 11am)

64kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) beat Artur Badalian (Ukraine) 5-0
75kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) lost to  Vikas Krishan (India) 0-5

Last 16 (2nd session, 2.30pm)

60kg George Bates (Ireland) v Artur Bril (Germany)
69kg Kieran Molloy (Ireland) v Richard Meinecke (Germany)

Last 8 and 16 (3rd session, 7pm)

Last 8

52kg Conor Quinn (Ireland) v Umar Bajwa (Germany)

Last 16

56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) v Omar El Hag (Germany)

June 21st

Q/Finals

64kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) v Kastriot Sopa (Germany)
81kg Joe Ward (Ireland) v Mehmet Nadir (Germany) or Pavil Silygan (Russia)
91kg Kiril Afanasev (Ireland) v Lucian Kohne (Germany)
91kg+ Dean Gardiner (Ireland) v Angel Gomez-Larduet)

Irish Squad

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

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

CHEMISTRY CUP 2018

IABA News

Kurt Walker

Kurt Walker believes that the Chemistry Cup is ideal preparation in the built up toward the qualifiers for Tokyo 2020.

The Ulster bantam has been named in a nine-strong Irish squad for the 45th edition of the tournament which begins in Halle, Germany tomorrow.

Some of the world’s top boxing nations, including Cuba, will be in the hat for Wednesday’s draw.

Walker lost on a split decision to Holland’s Enrico Le Cruz at the 2014 Chemistry Cup quarter-final. Rio Olympians Joe Ward, David Oliver Joyce and Steven Donnelly won double gold and silver at the same tournament.

Ward (2 gold) and Joyce, who has since switched codes, are the only two Irish boxers to claim titles at this level.

There’s no for complacency at the Chemistry Cup, one of the top multi-nations in the world, according to Commonwealth Games silver medalist Walker.

“I was there four years ago and it’s a very high level competition,” Walker told today’s Irish News.

“The USA are going, Cuba, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, all the best countries in the world will be there so there’s no messing about.

“The last time I lost to the Netherlands against a guy [Enrico Le Cruz] who ended up going to the Olympics at 60. It was a weird fight – I won the first round easy but then I blew up, I peaked too early and just messed about.

“In my head, everything I do now is just pushing towards the Olympics, added the Ulster bantam.

“But you can be unlucky and never qualify. Look at somebody like Sean McComb – I don’t know how he never went to the Olympics. But I believe I can qualify, 100 per cent. I’m fully confident it will happen.”

Team Ireland departed for Germany this morning.

CHEMISTRY CUP SQUAD CONFIRMED FOR GERMANY

IABA News

 

Joe Ward

The Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) have named a nine-strong Elite squad for the Chemistry Cup in Halle, Germany.

Current European Elite champion Joe Ward, pictured, lines out at light-heavy.

Seven national Elite champions – Conor Quinn, George Bates, Wayne Kelly, Kieran Molloy, Michael Nevin, Kiril Afanasev and Dean Gardiner – are included on the Irish team, along with Commonwealth Games finalist Kurt Walker.

Ward, a two-time Chemistry Cup champion,  could meet Julio La Cruz in Halle as the Olympic champion has been named on the Cuban panel for the 45th edition of the tournament.

 

Michael Nevin

Boxing with the British Lionhearts, Ward topped the World Series of Boxing Individual rankings ahead of second-place La Cruz this season, but the Cuban beat the Westmeath southpaw in the 2017 and 2015 World Elite finals.

“It’s going to be tough. Cuba are going to be there which makes it more difficult. It’s a stepping stone for me to build for when it really matters; the qualifiers for the Olympic Games next year,” said Ward.

Bernard Dunne believes that the Chemistry Cup, which has evolved into a virtual mini World Championships in recent seasons, will be an ideal test.

“The Chemistry Cup is a top tournament. It going to be tough as there will be world class athletes there,” said the IABA High-Performance Director.

“We’re sending a full team. It’s all about development and about getting ready for Olympic qualification tournaments.”

Head coach Zaur Antia and coaches Michael Carruth, the 1992 Olympic champion, Philip Keogh and Paul Thompson will be working Ireland’s corner in Germany

Boxing begins on Wednesday in Halle.

45th Chemistry cup Halle, Germany June 19/24

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

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

 

 

SQUAD TRAINING U/18s

IABA News

 

 

Squad Training for the over 18s Open class Development Squad will re-commence on Saturday June 23rd in Crumlin Boxing Club, Dublin from 10.30am.

Training will continue each Saturday after that. If you have any queries please contact Paddy Osborne on (086) 1008 367 or Larry Morrison on (086) 0292 476.