Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have a “full house” through to the AIBA World Elite Men’s Championships which begin in Germany on August 25.
Both nations have impressively qualified a maximum of ten boxers apiece for the 19th edition of the tournament in Hamburg.
Australia, Cuba and England have qualified 9 and India and Ukraine 8, while Italy and Colombia have 7 each over the line and the USA 6.
Ireland, Azerbaijan, Cameroon, China, Korea and Syria have advanced 5 boxers for the 85-nation tournament.
Germany will also have 10 athletes competing in Hamburg as they are entitled to a full compliment, courtesy of being the host nation.
260 boxers booked tickets through the five Continental Championships.Ten places go to the hosts and there are ten wild cards.
“Hamburg is ready, AIBA is ready, and the world is ready to once again witness boxing’s most prestigious tournament put the focus firmly back where it should be, on the sport we love, promote and support, said CK Wu, President of AIBA, ahead of the opening bell for the tournament.
“The mixture of defending champions, Olympic champions, experienced athletes and exciting first-time debutants is set to make this one of the most competitive and unpredictable World Championships in memory, and the partners we are working with will make it one of the biggest in AIBA history.”
Meanwhile, the Irish squad for Hamburg – Brendan Irvine, Kurt Walker, Sean McComb, Joe Ward and Dean Gardiner – are taking part in their final training camp at the Institute of Sport in Sheffield this week and next with England, Bulgaria and Scotland.
The team arrive home on August 18th and fly out to Hamburg on August 22nd.
Irvine, Walker, McComb, Ward and Gardiner qualfied for Hamburg 2017 through June’s European Elite Champiosnhips in the Ukraine, Ward winning his third gold at this level into the bargain and Irvine and Walker securing bronze.
Irish Squad Sheffield Training Camp
52kg Brendan Irvine (St Paul’s)
56kg Kurt Walker (Canal)
64kg Sean McComb (Holy Trinity)
81kg Joe Ward (Moate)
91+kg Dean Gardiner (Clonmel)
Coaches: Zaur Antia and John Conlan
Physio: Seamus Caffrey