Michael Nevin turned on the style to advance to the quarter-finals of the European Union Elites in Spain today.
The Portlaoise BC middle earned four 10-8 rounds en route to a unanimous decision over Germany’s Stepan Nikitin in Valladolid.
On the front foot for most of the three rounder, the former European Youth champion found the target with a wide variety of punches in a performance described as top class by Irish team manager Stephen Molloy.
He’ll now meet English southpaw Carl Fail, who edged Spain’s Miguel Guadrado on a 3-2 split this afternoon, in the last eight.
Nevin, his Portlaoise BC team-mate Wayne Kelly, Kieran Molloy, Kurt Walker and Kiril Afanasev are through to the quarter-finals aand are one win each away from at least bronze.
Today’s decision was Ireland’s fourth victory on the bounce in Spain.
Kelly and Molloy will fight for places in the semi-finals tomorrow.
Image: Michael Nevin with Irish coaches John Conlan and Eoin Pluck today
EU Elite Championships Valladolid, Spain
November 9
Prelims (Last 16)
52kg Conor Quinn (Ireland) lost to Rosenov Banbakov (Bulgaria) 1-4
56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Stefan Ivanov (Bulgaria) 5-0
91kg+ Dean Gardiner (Ireland) lost to Frazer Clarke (England) 1-4
November 10
Prelims (last 16)
69kg Kieran Molloy (Ireland) beat Ruben Veciunoa (Belgium) 5-0
91kg Kiril Afanasev (Ireland) beat David Michalek (Slovakia) 4-1
November 11th
Prelims (last 16)
64kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) beat Petr Novak (Czech Republic) 5-0
November 12
Prelims (last 16)
75kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) beat Stepan Nikitin (Germany) 5-0
November 13
Q/Finals
64kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) v Dmitry Galogot (Moldova)
69kg Kieran Molloy (Ireland) v Vincenzo Arecchiai (Italy)
November 14
Q/Finals
91kg Kiril Afanasev (Ireland) v Toni Filipi (Croatia)
November 15
Q/Finals
56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) v Jaroslav Iwanow (Poland)
75kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) v Carl Fail (England)
Irish squad
52kg Conor Quinn (Clonard BC)
56kg Kurt Walker (Canal BC)
64kg Wayne Kelly (Portlaoise BC)
69kg Kieran Molloy (Oughterard BC)
75kg Michael Nevin (Portlaoise BC)
91kg Kirill Afanasev (Smithfield BC)
91kg+ Dean Gardiner (Clonmel BC) Cpt
Team Manager: Stephen Molloy
Coaches: John Conlan & Eoin Pluck
Physiotherapist: Seamus Caffrey
Team Doctor: Jim Clover- Team Doctor
Sports Physiologist: Damian Martin
Referee & Judge: Jim Murrin- R&J