Michael O’Reilly and Dean Gardiner will be in action in the early session in Saturday’s finals at the World Olympic qualifiers in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Click here for schedule.

Boxing begins at 10am in the morning in the Azeri capital.

O’Reilly, who qualified for Rio 2016 in Baku, will be looking to cap an excellent tournament versus Turkmenistan’s Arslan Achilov.

 

 

O’Reilly beat Iraq’s Waheed Abdulridha Waheed  earlier today to set up the 75kg decider with Achilov.

Gardiner ousted Moldova’s Alexei Zavatin to set up his super-heavyweight final with Italy’s Guido Vianello with a Rio 2016 place on the line.

Super-heavyweights must win gold in Baku as there is just one Olympic place available for the big men.

Team Ireland are due to arrive home on Sunday morning via Dublin Airport at 9.50am. Flight TK 1975 via Istanbul (Terminal 1).

 

 

Irish Draw Baku Olympic qualifiers

June 18th

(Last 32)

91kg Darren O’Neill (Ireland) beat Mustafa El Molla (Sweden) 3-0

June 19th

(Last 32)

64kg Dean Walsh (Ireland) lost to Smetov Ismetov (Bulgaria) 0-3

(Last 16)

91kg+ Dean Gardiner beat Satish Kumar (India) 2-1

June 20th

75kg Michael O’Reilly (Ireland) beat Vitalia Bandarenka (Belarus) 3-0 (last 32)

91kg Darren O’Neill (Ireland) lost to Wesley Apochi (Nigeria) 0-3 (last 16)

June 21st

Last 16

75kg Michael O’Reilly (Ireland) beat Shinebayor Narmandakh (Mongolia) 3-0

Q/Finals

91+kg Dean Gardiner (Ireland) beat Viktor Vychryst (Ukraine) 3-0

July 23rd

Q/Finals

75kg Michael O’Reilly (Ireland) beat Kamran Shakhsuvarly (Azerbaijan) 3-0

June 24th

S/Finals

75kg Michael O’Reilly (Ireland) beat Waheed Abdulridha Waheed (Iraq) 3-0

91kg+ Dean Gardiner (Ireland) beat Alexei Zavatin (Moldova) 3-0

June 25th

Finals

75kg Michael O’Reilly (Ireland) v Arslan Achilov (Turkmenistan)

91kg+ Dean Gardiner (Ireland) v Guido Vianello (Italy)

 

Irish Squad

64kg (Light-welter) Dean Walsh (St Josephs/St Ibars)

75kg (Middleweight) Michael O’Reilly (Portlaoise) (Qualified for Rio 2016 and at least a silver medal)

91kg (Heavyweight) Darren O’Neill (Paulstown)

91kg + (Super-heavy) Dean Gardiner (Clonmel) (Silver, at least).

Team manager Joe Hennigan

Coaches: Zaur Antia and Eddie Bolger

Performance Analyst Alan Swanton

Sports Psychologist: Gerry Hussey

 

Michael O’Reilly can add the words Irish Olympian to his CV. Click here for today’s results.

The Portlaoise BC middleweight qualified for Rio 2016 after earning a unanimous decision (29-28,29-28,29-28) over Azerbaijan’s Shinebayor Narmandakh in the quarter-finals of the World Olympic qualifiers in Baku, Azerbaijan today.

The top five middleweights in Baku qualify for the 31st Olympiad and the Irish European Games champion and World Elite bronze medallist is now into the last-four in the Azeri capital.

O’Reilly, the No. 1 seed in Baku, said he was absolutely thrilled with his victory, and Irish coach Eddie Bolger, who was working O’Reilly’s corner with Ireland chief seconds Zaur Antia, hailed his discipline.

He said: “It was a tense affair as you can imagine and it would have been  easy for Michael to  break discipline, but he was cool and stuck to the game plan in each round.

“Michael must take credit for this and deserved his win. He was focused in his preperation and during the bout. To beat the home boy always brings added pressure but Michael ‘s attitude and discipline was key. We are delighted for him and everyone involved.”

Pat Ryan, President of the Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) and head coach with the 86-year-old Portlaoise BC, hailed today’s performances.

“Congratulations to Michael and our coaches in staff in Baku on a magnificent achievemnet. This success is testiment to how our clubs are developing under the auspices and guidance of the National Association,” he said.

O’Reilly joins Katie Taylor, Paddy Barnes, Brendan Irvine, Michael Conlan, David Oliver Joyce, Steven Donnelly and Joe Ward on the plane to Rio.

The Irish champion, who is guaranteed at least bronze in Baku, will be back in action in the last-four tomorrow versus either Raul Sanchez of the Dominican Republic or Waheed Abdulridha Waheed of Iraq.

But the biggest prize of all – a ticket to August’s Olympics – has already been secured

Tipperary super-heavyweight Dean Gardiner will be between the ropes tomorrow two wins away from qualifying for the 2016 Games.

There is only one Rio place for super-heavyweight in Baku and Gardiner must win gold.

Zuar Antia and Eddie Bolger are working Ireland’s corner in Azerbaijan.

 

 

Irish Draw Baku Olympic qualifiers

June 18th

(Last 32)

91kg Darren O’Neill (Ireland) beat Mustafa El Molla (Sweden) 3-0

June 19th

(Last 32)

64kg Dean Walsh (Ireland) lost to Smetov Ismetov (Bulgaria) 0-3

(Last 16)

91kg+ Dean Gardiner beat Satish Kumar (India) 2-1

June 20th

75kg Michael O’Reilly (Ireland) beat Vitalia Bandarenka (Belarus) 3-0 (last 32)

91kg Darren O’Neill (Ireland) lost to Wesley Apochi (Nigeria) 0-3 (last 16)

June 21st

Last 16

75kg Michael O’Reilly (Ireland) beat Shinebayor Narmandakh (Mongolia) 3-0

Q/Finals

91+kg Dean Gardiner (Ireland) beat Viktor Vychryst (Ukraine) 3-0

July 23rd

Q/Finals

75kg Michael O’Reilly (Ireland) beat Kamran Shakhsuvarly (Azerbaijan) 3-0

July 24th

S/Finals

75kg Michael O’Reilly (Ireland) v Waheed Abdulridha Waheed (Iraq)

91kg+ Dean Gardiner (Ireland) v Alexei Zavatin (Moldova)

 

Irish Squad

64kg (Light-welter) Dean Walsh (St Josephs/St Ibars)

75kg (Middleweight) Michael O’Reilly (Portlaoise) (Qualified for Rio 2016 and at least a bronze medal)

91kg (Heavyweight) Darren O’Neill (Paulstown)

91kg + (Super-heavy) Dean Gardiner (Clonmel) (Bronze, at least).

Team manager Joe Hennigan

Coaches: Zaur Antia and Eddie Bolger

Performance Analyst Alan Swanton

Sports Psychologist: Gerry Hussey

 

 

 

Portlaoise BC middleweight Michael O’Reilly meets Azerbaijan’s Kamran Shakhsuvarly for a place at the Rio 2016 at the World Olympic qualifiers in Baku, Azerbaijan today.

The top five middleweights in the Azeri capital book tickets for the 31st Olympiad.

O’Reilly, the European Games champion, and Shakhsuvarly, the 2016 Great Silk Way champion, weighed-in this morning ahead of today’s three-rounder.

The 75kg clash is the 13th fight on the program which begins at 10am this morning (Irish time). Click here for program.

Dean Gardiner is in action in the semi-finals of the tournament tomorrow. The Clonmel BC super-heavyweight must win gold in Baku as there is just one Rio place in the 91kg+ class.

 

Irish Draw Baku Olympic qualifiers

June 18th

(Last 32)

91kg Darren O’Neill (Ireland) beat Mustafa El Molla (Sweden) 3-0

June 19th

(Last 32)

64kg Dean Walsh (Ireland) lost to Smetov Ismetov (Bulgaria) 0-3

(Last 16)

91kg+ Dean Gardiner beat Satish Kumar (India) 2-1

June 20th

75kg Michael O’Reilly (Ireland) beat Vitalia Bandarenka (Belarus) 3-0 (last 32)

91kg Darren O’Neill (Ireland) lost to Wesley Apochi (Nigeria) 0-3 (last 16)

June 21st

Last 16

75kg Michael O’Reilly (Ireland) beat Shinebayor Narmandakh (Mongolia) 3-0

Q/Finals

91+kg Dean Gardiner (Ireland) beat Viktor Vychryst (Ukraine) 3-0

July 23rd

Q/Finals

75kg Michael O’Reilly (Ireland) v Kamran Shakhsuvarly (Azerbaijan)

July 24

S/Finals

91kg+ Dean Gardiner (Ireland) v Alexei Zavatin (Moldova)

 

Irish Squad

64kg (Light-welter) Dean Walsh (St Josephs/St Ibars)

75kg (Middleweight) Michael O’Reilly (Portlaoise)

91kg (Heavyweight) Darren O’Neill (Paulstown)

91kg + (Super-heavy) Dean Gardiner (Clonmel)

Team manager Joe Hennigan

Coaches: Zaur Antia and Eddie Bolger

Performance Analyst Alan Swanton

Sports Psychologist: Gerry Hussey