Irish boxing legend Paul Griffin was lauded in the Mansion House in Dublin today.

The occasion, hosted by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Brendan Carr, marked the 25th anniversary of the Drimnagh BC featherweight winning European Elite gold in Gothenburg, Sweden in 1991.

Griffin, who represented Ireland at the 1992 Olympics, won four fights en route to the top of the podium, outpointing England’s Alan Vaughan in the semi-finals before beating Faat Gatin of the Soviet Union 23-15 in the 57kg decider.

Denis Galvin, Joe Lawlor, Paul Buttimer, Neil Gough, Billy Walsh and Joe Lowe also represented Ireland at the 29th edition of the tournament.

Griffin’s gold, our only medal at the tournament a quarter of a century ago, helped Ireland finish in 8th position in the medals table.

Christy McKenna, Ireland’s coach in Gothenburg, attended today’s ceremony along with IABA CEO Fergal Carruth and Olympic champion Michael Carruth, family and guests.

The 1991 European Championships were the first Continental tournament to use computer scoring after the scoring system was changed following the 1988 Olympics.

Pleases scroll down for additional photographs from today’s function at the Mansion House.

 

Ireland’s European Elite Champions

1939: National Stadium Dublin

Flyweight: Jimmy Ingle

Featherweight: Paddy Dowdall

1947: National Stadium Dublin

Light-heavy: Gearoid O’Colmain

1991: Gothenburg, Sweden

Featherweight: Paul Griffin

2005: Tonsberg, Norway

Lightweight: Katie Taylor

2006: Warsaw, Poland

Lightweight: Katie Taylor

2007: Vejle, Denmark

Lightweight: Katie Taylor

2009: Nikolayev, Ukraine

Lightweight: Katie Taylor

2010: Moscow, Russia

Light-fly: Paddy Barnes

2011: Rotterdam, Holland

Lightweight: Katie Taylor

2011: Ankara, Turkey

Light-welter: Ray Moylette

Light-heavy: Joe Ward

2013: Minsk, Belarus

Bantamweight: John Joe Nevin

Middleweight: Jason Quigley

2014: Bucharest, Romania

Lightweight: Katie Taylor

2015: Samokov, Bulgaria

Bantamweight: Michael Conlan

Light-heavy: Joe Ward

 

Pictures

P1.Nutritionist and friend
P2. Martin Collins Boy 1 National champion for Drimnagh BC
P3. Members Drimnagh BC
P4. Kelly McLoughlin U18 national champion Drimnagh BC, Karl McLoughlin Coach Drimnagh BC,Lord Mayor, Paul Griffin
P5. Paul and Partner
P6. Fergal, Lord Mayor, PG, MC, Barney Christy and Jim from Drogheda’s Holy Family BC
P7. Fran Long Drimnagh BC Coach, PG, Sophie Long

 

 

 

 

Conor Wallace is out of Friday’s Elite international with England at Dublin’s National Stadium.

The Irish Elite finalist picked up a hand injury in training and has been replaced by John Joyce of the St Michael’s Athy BC.

Wallace, who boxes out of the St Monica’s BC, admitted he was gutted to miss the last outing of the year.

“Unfortunately, I cannot fight in Ireland vs England International on Friday night in the National Stadium due to a hand injury I sustained in sparring, absolutely gutted, he said.

“It is another setback, but my preparation still must continue to get in the best possible shape I can for the Elite Championships (February 2017).”

Joyce will be on of two St Michael’s Athy BC boxers in action at the home of Irish boxing along with Moira McElligot.

The English squad is due to arrive in Dublin on Thursday.

Friday’s international will feature a number of special guests.

Ireland and England have been involved in some tremendous internationals down through the decades.

Both nations renew rivalries on Friday night over nine bouts at the National Stadium in Dublin.

In 1955, two of the men that went on to become legends of the sport in Ireland lined out against an English selection at the same venue.

Fred Tiedt and Freddie Gilroy both won on the night. A year later the Dublin and Belfast duo were part of an Irish boxing team that won four medals, one silver and three bronze, at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne.

Tiedt (silver), Gilroy (bronze), Tony Byrne (bronze) and John Caldwell (bronze) medalled.

That haul was numerically equaled at the London 2012 Games, with Katie Taylor (gold), John Joe Nevin (silver), Paddy Barnes (bronze) and Michael Conlan (bronze) finishing in podium positions.

Ireland finished in 7th position in the medals table at Melbourne 1956 and Great Britain in second spot. Great Britain topped the medals table at London 2012 and Ireland finished in joint 5th spot with Kazakhstan.

Meanwhile, Friday’s international with England will feature a number of special guests.

Tickets available on the door at €10 per adult and €5 per child. Pre-pay tickets available through IABA.

Contact eimear@iaba.ie or (01) 453 3371. Group specials available for 10 or more people.

Larry Morrison is Irish team manager.

 

 

Ireland v England November 25th, 1955 National Stadium Dublin

 

51kg	Chris Rafter	IRL	Frankie Spencer	ENG	PTS
54kg	Freddie Gilroy	IRL	Don Weller	ENG	TKO 2
57kg	Eddie Duffy	IRL	Dave Merchant	ENG	PTS
60kg	Steve Coffey	IRL	Brian Jones	ENG	PTS
63,5kg	Fred Tiedt	IRL	George Lucas	ENG	PTS
67kg	Harry Perry	IRL	Terry Hollis	ENG	PTS
71kg	Danny King	IRL	Johnny Cunningham	ENG	PTS
75kg	Peter Burke	IRL	Frank Hope	ENG	PTS
81kg	Paddy Lyons	IRL	John Gibbons	ENG	PTS
+81kg	Dave Rent	ENG	Tommy Bruce	IRL	TKO 3

(Results courtesy of Gerry Callan, Irish Daily Star, via StrefaAmateur Boxing.

 

Ireland v England  National Stadium Dublin December 16th

Ireland

52kg Brendan Irvine (St Pauls)

56kg Stephen McKenna

57kg Moira McElligott (St Michael’s Athy)

60kg Kellie Harrington (Glasnevin)

60kg George Bates (St Marys)

64kg Sean McComb

75kg Connor Wallace

81kg Joe Ward (Moate & AIBA Pro Boxing)

91kg Darren O’Neill (Paulstown)

England

52kg Ishmail Khan

56kg Louis Lynn

57kg Raven Chapman

60kg Sarah Dunne

60kg Cory O’Regan

64kg Mason Smith

75kg Lewis Richardson

81kg George Crotty

91kg Chevron Clarke

 

Sean McComb was delighted with his 64kg debut in the German Bundesliga on Saturday after recording a confidence-boosting win for BSK Hannover-Seelce ahead of Friday’s Elite clash with England at the National Stadium in Dublin.

The AIBA ranked Belfast fighter outclassed Jonas Stang of Chemnitz 94 on a unanimous decision in his first fight at 64kg to earn the praise of Irish High-Performance coach Dmitry Dimitruc

But Monaghan’s Stephen McKenna and Kildare’s John Joyce dropped split and unanimous verdicts to Robert Benlik and Andrey Merzlyakov in a match Chemnitz 94 won 4-3 in Hannover.

The Irish trio and George Bates are signed with the German outfit in the Bundesliga.

“I was a bit iffy on boxing due to the flu last week, but thankfully I overcame it just in time, said McComb.

“It was the good tough fight that I needed and performed well. It feels good to get the cobwebs off and to break into my new weight at 64kg.”

McComb meets England’s Mason Smith at Dublin’s National Stadium Friday as part of a nine-bout Elite international at the home of Irish boxing.

London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympians and World Elite silver medallist Darren O’Neill, Joe Ward, Brendan Irvine and Kellie Harrington also line out for Ireland.

O’Neill faces recently crowned British champion Chevron Clarke at heavyweight in the final bout on the card in the final outing of an eventful year for both nations.

Friday’s international with England will feature a number of special guests.

Tickets available on the door at €10 per adult and €5 per child. Pre-pay tickets available through IABA.

Contact eimear@iaba.ie or (01) 453 3371. Group specials available for 10 or more people.

Larry Morrison is Irish team manager.

Ireland

52kg Brendan Irvine (St Pauls)

56kg Stephen McKenna (Old School)

57kg Moira McElligott (St Michael’s Athy)

60kg Kellie Harrington (Glasnevin)

60kg George Bates (St Marys)

64kg Sean McComb (Holy Trinity)

75kg Connor Wallace (St Monicas)

81kg Joe Ward (Moate & AIBA Pro Boxing)

91kg Darren O’Neill (Paulstown)

England

52kg Ishmail Khan

56kg Louis Lynn

57kg Raven Chapman

60kg Sarah Dunne

60kg Cory O’Regan

64kg Mason Smith

75kg Lewis Richardson

81kg George Crotty

91kg Chevron Clarke

Ireland’s boxers experienced contrasting fortunes for BSK Hannover-Seelce in the Bundesliga versus Chemnitz 94 in Germany tonight.

Sean McComb impressed en route to victory over Jonas Stann in the first Bundesliga match of the season in Hannover.

A top drawer performance from the Belfast man, who attracted the attention of German journalists after a classy three rounds.

“Got the win tonight against a tough German opponent; boxed very well and the Bundesliga debut was a nice success,” said the Holy Trinity BC ace.

Stephen McKenna and John Joyce were beaten by Robert Beblik and Andrey Merzlyakov, McKenna edged out on a spit by the experienced German international Beblik from a three-rounder which could have gone either way.

Irish coach Dmitry Dimitruc said the Irish trio gave it everything, adding that McComb was a different class.

George Bates will also line out for BSK Hannover in the Bundesliga early in the New Year.

The Irish squad is due home tomorrow morning via Dublin Airport.

Picture: Irish boxers and coach in the ring at Hannover venue.

 

German Bundesliga Hannover

December 10th.

56kg Stephen McKenna (BSK Hannover –Seelce) lost to Robert Beblik (Chemnitz 94) 1-2

64kg Sean McComb (BSK Hannover- Seelce) beat Jonas Stang ((Chemnitz 94) 3-0

75kg John Joyce (BSK Hannover- Seelce) lost to Andrey Merzlyakov (Chemnitz 94) 0-3

 

Irish Squad: Bundesliga 2016/17

56kg Stephen McKenna (Old School)
60kg George Bates (St Marys)
64kg Sean McComb (Holy Trinity)
75kg John Joyce (St Michael’s Athy)

Coach: Dmitry Dimitruc