“Yesterday was a rest day for Ricky Nesbitt who boxes in the semi-final tomorrow, Wednesday, but the other lads took part in some tough sparring with Russian boxers, reports Paddy Gallagher from Russia ahead of today’s World University Championships semi-final between Nesbitt and Hong Chuan-Hsun of Chinese Taipei in Elista.
“Ricky said he was looking forward to getting his semi final underway and that there will be no surprises! added Gallagher.
“The weigh-in is between 8am – 9am with boxing starting at 3pm (1pm Irish time).Ricky Nesbitt is bout number three so he should be in the ring at approximately 1:30pm.”
“I’m feeling great, excited and looking forward to the task ahead. It’s a privilege to be at this level in sport”, said Nesbitt.
Nesbitt is looking to become the first Irish student to box in a World Championships final. Thailand 2016 saw Christina Desmond and Kenny Okungbowa win bronze medals but Nesbitt is hoping Russia 2018 will be even better.
Attached are pictures of the Irish boxers and their Russian sparring partners.
World University Championships Elista, Russia
September 1
60kg Terry McEntee (Ireland,Old School/DCU) beat Narek Hovhannisyan (Armenia) 5-0
September 2
Q/Finals
56kg Sean Purcell (Ireland,Enniskerry/WIT) lost to Zhorzhik Marutyan (Armenia) 0-5
64kg Matthew McCole (Ireland,Dungloe/LKIT) lost to Alisa Sharifov (Russia) 0-5
September 3
Q/Finals
60kg Terry McEntee (Ireland,Old School/DCU) lost to Min Uulu Siitbek (Kyrgyzstan) 0-4
September 5
S/Final
52KG Ricky Nesbitt (Ireland,Holy Family Drogheda/DKIT) v Hong Chuan-Hsun (Chinese Taipei)
Team Ireland
52KG Ricky Nesbitt Holy Family Drogheda/DKIT
56KG Sean Purcell Enniskerry/WIT
60KG Terry McEntee Old School/DCU
64KG Matthew McCole Dungloe/LKIT
Team Manager Paul Geoghegan
Coaches Derek Ahern
Paddy Gallagher