Steven Donnelly (blue) will be the first Irish boxer in action at the Rio Olympics on Sunday
Paddy Barnes will be keeping an eye on Saturday’s preliminary round clash between Armenia’s Artur Havhannisyan and Spain’s Samuel “El Infierno” Carmona at the Rio Olympics.
Both men meet around 3.30pm (Irish time) tomorrow and the winner will face Barnes in the last 16 on Monday.
Barnes won’t have far to look for background if Havhannisyan advances.The Armenian orthodox dropped a unanimous decision to Brendan Irvine, who makes his Olympic debut in Rio next weekend, at the 2014 World Youths in Bulgaria.
Madrid orthodox Carmona has 82 bouts under his belt going in the last 32 bout. “El Infierno” lists two-time Olympic champion Guillermo “The Jackal” Rigondeaux as his favourite boxer.
Meanwhile, Steven Donnelly and David Oliver Joyce get Ireland’s campaign underway on Sunday versus Andrique Allisop (Seychelles) and Zahir Kedache (Algeria).
The winner of the Joyce versus Allisop three-rounder meets Albert Selimov – who claimed AIBA World Elite gold for Russia in 2007 in Chicago but who is now boxing for Azerbaijan – in the last 16. Selimov receive a bye.
Click here for draw sheets.
Irish Draw Rio Olympics
August 7th (last 32)
60kg David Oliver Joyce (Ireland) v Andrique Allisop (Seychelles)
69kg Stephen Donnelly (Ireland) v Zahir Kedache (Algeria)
August 8th (last 16)
49kg Paddy Barnes (Ireland) v Artur Havhannisyan (Armenia) or Samuel Carmona (Spain)
August 10th (last 16)
81kg Joe Ward (Ireland) v Serge Michel (Germany) or Andrea Mina (Ecuador)
August 12th (last 16)
75kg Michael O’Reilly (Ireland) v Uziel Rodriquez (Mexico) or Waheed Karawi (Iraq)
August 13th (last 32)
52kg Brendan Irvine (Ireland) v Shakhobidin Zoirov (Uzbekistan)
August 14th (last 16)
56kg Michael Conlan (Ireland) v Aram Avagyan (Armenia) or Arashi Mariska (Japan)
August 15th (Q/Finals)
60kg Katie Taylor (Ireland) v Mira Potkonen (Finland) or Adriana Araujo (Brazil)
Irish squad
Women
60kg (Lightweight) – Katie Taylor (Bray)
Men
49kg (Light-flyweight) – Paddy Barnes (Holy Family)
52kg (Flyweight) – Brendan Irvine (St Paul’s)
56kg (Bantamweight) – Michael Conlan (Clonard)
60kg (Lightweight) – David Oliver Joyce (St Michael’s Athy & AIBA Pro Boxing)
69kg (Welterweight) – Steven Donnelly (All Saints)
75kg (Middleweight) – Michael O’Reilly (Portlaoise)
81kg (Light-heavyweight) – Joe Ward (Moate & AIBA Pro Boxing)
Team Manager: Joe Hennigan
Coaches: Zaur Antia, Eddie Bolger, John Conlan
Physio: Julianne Ryan
Sport Psychologist: Gerry Hussey