Westmeath light welter Wayne Kelly will be aiming to upgrade his guaranteed bronze to at least silver at the Trestin Memorial today in Ukraine today.
And the Portlaoise BC southpaw is quietly confident in Odessa.
“I fancy my chances,” said the Portlaoise BC southpaw who has won three fights in three days in Odessa going into his fourth outing versus Yuri Shepelyk of Ukraine. “I’m just looking to keep improving, fight by fight.”
The corresponding 63kg semi-final is an all Ukrainian domestic dispute.
Kelly will be in the ring at approximately 2.15pm (Irish time) today, according to official schedule here.
The tournament is being contested across the eight Olympic limits for men – fly, feather, light-welter, welter, middle, light-heavy, heavy and super-heavy.
23rd Trestin Memorial Odessa, Ukraine
July 9
Last 32
63kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) beat Vaghinak Bazeyan (Armenia) 5-0
69kg Aiden Walsh (Ireland) lost to Tibenius Barbuso (Hungary) 1-4
75kg Emmet Brennan (Ireland) beat Igor Harchenko (Ukraine) 5-0
Last 16
81kg Tommy Hyde (Ireland) beat Hindawl Al Oada (Jordan) 5-0
July 10
Last 16
63kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) beat Zoravov Petrosayan (Ukraine) 3-2
75kg Emmet Brennan (Ireland) beat Nikita Yakimchyk (Ukraine) 5-0
91kg Kenny Okungbowa (Ireland) beat Shangarbek Batynula (Kazakhstan) RTD2
July 11
Q/Finals
63kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) beat Denys Pesotskyi (Ukraine) 3-2 (fight stopped in round two, cuts)
75kg Emmet Brennan (Ireland) lost to Ivan Papakyn (Ukraine) 0-5
81kg Tommy Hyde (Ireland) lost to Dannylo Zhasan (Ukraine) 0-5
91kg Kenny Okungbowa (Ireland) lost to Eshish Husain (Jordan) 0-3
July 12
S/Finals
63kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) v Yuri Shepelyk (Ukraine)
Irish squad
63kg Wayne Kelly (Portlaoise) (Bronze, at least)
69kg Aidan Walsh (Monkstown)
75kg Emmet Brennan (Glasnevin)
81kg Tommy Hyde (Mayfield)
91kg Ken Okungbowa (Athlone)
Coaches: Eoin Pluck and Jimmy Halpin