Stephen McKenna, John Joyce and Sean McComb box in Germany this weekend.

The Irish trio line out for BSK Hannover Seelze versus BC Chemnitz 94 in the Bundesliga in Hanover on Saturday evening.

Three Irish boxers, James Cleary (1-0), Adam Nolan (0-1) and George Bates (2-0) – Bates has signed up again this year and will be in action for BSK Hannover Seelze in the New Year -, competed in the latter half of the Bundesliga 2015/16 season for BSK Hannover Seelze last March and won four of five bouts, with London 2012 Olympian Nolan unlucky to drop a split decision to former European champion Balazs Bacskai of Hungary.

Ireland will be involved from the start of the Bundesliga season this term, explained Irish coach Dmitry Dimitruc.

He said: “There have been a few rule changes from last season. Last year there was a one-kilo allowance, but not this year, he said.

“Teams must also have an under 21 (John Joyce) registered. It is a very competitive tournament. There will be six fights and if our club gets to the final there will be two more fights.”

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

 

Kellie Harrington has received a boost ahead of the upcoming international with England at Dublin’s National Stadium.

The World Elite finalist improved one place to No. 3 in the light-welter bracket in the AIBA World Women’s rankings ,although she’ll drop down a notch to compete at lightweight versus England’s Sarah Dunne on December 16th.

If Harrington remains at lightweight, which is one of the Olympic weights for women, she’ll cede 25% of the 800 points banked for winning world silver.

Ranked boxers switching weights take 75% of the points earned from their previous weight with them.

The new rankings reflect performances at August’s Olympic Games in Rio and do not yet take into account performances at the European Elite Women’s Championships in Bulgaria last month.

Cork middleweight Christina Desmond claimed bronze in Bulgaria and will receive 300 points when her podium finish at the Confederation Championships is factored into the equation.

Grainne Walsh is included at No. 11 in the welterweight pecking order and Ceire Smith No. 25 at flyweight.

Olympic champions Katie Taylor and Claressa Shields are still included in the AIBA World  Women’s rankings. Both women have turned professional.

AIBA Ranking Points for Men and Women

Olympic Games

1st: 1300

2nd: 900

3rd: 750

4th: 750

5th: 600

World Championships

1st: 1200

2nd: 800

3rd: 650

4th: 650

5th: 500

Continental Multi-Sport Games (i.e European Games)

1st:700

2nd:500

3rd: 350

4th: 350

5th: 250

Confederation  Championships

1st: 500

2nd: 400

3rd: 300

4th: 300

5th: 200

(5th place – boxer that lost to eventual gold medallist)

London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympians Darren O’Neill, Brendan Irvine and Joe Ward have been named in a nine-strong squad to face England.

Both nations clash at the National Stadium in an Elite men’s and women’s international on December 16th.

Kellie Harrington is dropping down to lightweight for the meeting.

Harrington became the first Irish female boxer besides Katie Taylor to reach an AIBA World Elite final in Kazakhstan earlier this year, thus guaranteeing herself light-welterweight silver in another first for Irish boxing.

But the joint World No. 4 ranked light-welter will now compete at 60kg, which is one of the three Olympic weights for women.

Irish team manager Larry Morrison anticipates an eagerly contested international.

“England are a world class boxing nation and are old rivals. There have been many fantastic internationals between both nations down through the years and we  are very much looking forward to the renewal of rivalries,” he said.

Darren O’Neill sees the pre-Christmas head-to-head as ideal ahead of February’s National Elite Championships.

“It will be a good prep fight to see where I’m on the way back to heavy training for the Nationals,” said the ex-European Elite silver medallist.

As regards the National Elites, the Kilkenny southpaw will be aiming for his seventh title at two different weights – middle and heavy.

“It will be my 13th season entering the Nationals, but my 12th competing as I broke my thumb in 2007 and had to withdraw. The World Championships are in Hamburg in 2017 so it’s obviously going to be a big year with the National, World and European Championships in 2017.”

Zaur Antia will be working Ireland’s corner at the home of Irish boxing.

The six-time Georgian National Elite champion, a bronze medallist at the former USSR Championships, will lead Team Ireland on the road to Tokyo 2020.

He said: “I am delighted on both a personal and professional basis to commit to Irish boxing,”

 

Irish squad v England

52kg Brendan Irvine (St Pauls)

56kg Stephen McKenna (Old School)

60kg Kellie Harrington (Glasnevin)

60kg George Bates (St Marys)

64kg Sean McComb (Holy Trinity)

75kg Connor Wallace (St Monicas)

75kg Christina Desmond (Fr Horgans)

81kg Joe Ward (Moate & AIBA Pro Boxing)

91kg Darren O’Neill (Paulstown)