WAYNE KELLY IN ACTION DURING SEMI FINALS OF STRANDJA MULTI-NATIONS TOURNAMENT TODAY

Wayne Kelly and Russia’s Vitaly Dunaytsev go head-to-head in the afternoon session in the semi-finals of the 67th Strandja multi-nations in Sofia, Bulgaria today.

http://www.bgboxing.org/…/2…/02/strandja2016/C58D0226.CP.pdf

The Ballynacargy BC light-welter and the Rio 2016 Olympian, the current World and European Elite champion, clash in the 10th fight on the program. Boxing begins at 12pm (Irish time).

England’s Sam Maxwell and Miguel Ferrin of Ecuador meet in the corresponding 64kg semi-final.

Kelly guaranteed Ireland at least bronze at the 40-nation tournament yesterday after recording a unanimous decision over Norway’s Hadi Srour.

The Westmeath ace won 30-27,30-27,29-28 across the board. The Stramdja finals will be held on Saturday. Forty nations are competing in Sofia.

Team Ireland are due to arrive home via Dublin Airport on Sunday morning at 11.40am.

Picture: Tournament venue

sTRANDJA

67th Strandja Multi-Nations Sofia, Bulgaria

February 23rd
(Last 32)
60kg Shauna Browne-O’Keeffe (Ireland) lost to Kinga Siwa (Poland) 1-2
60kg Gary Cully (Ireland) beat Tymur Beliak (Ukraine) 2-1
75kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) lost to Qian Li (China) 0-3
91kg Kiril Afanasev (Ireland) lost to Gevorg Manukian (Ukraine) 0-3
91kg+ Thomas Carthy (Ireland) lost to Mirozhidjon Abdullave (Uzbekistan) 0-3

February 24th
(Last 16)
52kg Brendan Irvine (Ireland) lost to Vincenzo Picardi (Italy) 0-3
60kg Gary Cully (Ireland) lost to Haeju Choi (Korea) 0-3
64kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) beat Fatih Keles (Turkey) TKOI2
81kg JP Delaney (Ireland) lost Nikoloy Sekhniashvili (Georgia) 0-3

February 25th
Q/Final
64kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) beat Hadi Srour (Norway) 3-0

February 26th
S/Final
64kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) v Vitaly Dunaytsev (Russia)
64kg Sam Maxwell (England) v Miguel Ferrin (Ecuador)

Irish squad

Male

52kg Brendan Irvine (St Pauls)

60kg Gary Cully (St Davids)

64kg Wayne Kelly (Ballynacargy) (Bronze, at least)

81kg JP Delaney (Emerald)

91kg Kiril Afanasev (Smithfield)

+91kg Thomas Carty (Glasnevin)

Female

60kg Shauna Browne-O’Keefe (Clonmel)

75kg Christina Desmond (Fr Horgan’s)

Coaches: Zaur Antia, Billy McClean, Jimmy Halpin

Team Manager: Joe Hennigan

Physio: Julianne Ryan

Analyst: Alan Swanton

R&J: John Mongan