The break in World Series of Boxing action this week is
perfectly timed for the Irish boxers in the series, who will be
heading back to the Emerald Isle for the national championships,
which start at the National Stadium in Dublin on Friday.
The 2011 Championships arrive in the Irish Amateur Boxing
Association's Centenary year but have a further significance, since
the winners will be part of the Irish men's squad going forward
toward the AIBA World Championships and Olympic qualifiers in Baku,
Azerbaijan in September.
Six Irish boxers, including defending champions Ken Egan and
John Joe Joyce (Miami Gallos) and John Joe Nevin (Paris United)
will be competing in the national championships alongside Tommy
McCarthy and Eamon O'Kane (Milano Thunder) and David Oliver Joyce
(Istanbulls).
AIBA Youth World champion Joe Ward will be competing at
light-heavyweight, a move which could see him come up against Ken
Egan, who will be aiming for an unprecedented 11th Irish Senior
title in a row. Egan, who won silver for Ireland at the last
Olympics, says he wants to qualify for the London Games and go one
better than his silver medal from Beijing. However, if Egan drops
his 81Kg title - and Tommy McCarthy and Davey Joe Joyce, both 2008
AIBA World Youth bronze medalists, are also strong contenders in
this class - then the door could be slammed shut on his Olympic
dream.
Dominic O'Rourke, the IABA Director of Boxing, believes that the
Elite Championships could produce a few surprises:
"There is quality in every weight division and I wouldn't be
surprised if there are a few shocks as the Championships unfold.
Everyone knows what is at stake here. The defending champions will
be looking to retain their titles, but they will be facing stiff
competition in every weight category. It promises to be a very
exciting Championships."
The finals will be held on Friday February 25th and the winners
can look forward to the World Championships and Olympic qualifiers
in Baku in September.
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