WORLD Elite silver medallist Jason Quigley and two-time Olympic bronze medalist Paddy Barnes have signed for Italy in the World Series of Boxing (WSB), writes Bernard O'Neill.
The Donegal and Belfast pair were officially unveiled as Italia Thunder fighters at yesterday's press conference at the Four Points Hotel in Milan. Finn Valley BC middleweight Quigley, ranked number two in the World by the International Boxing Association, has fought in the WSB in the past with the Los Angeles Matadors.
Holy Family BC light-flyweight Barnes will be making his WSB debut this season and could be selected on the Thunder squad for next Friday's opening match away to Argentina. Quigley, who won his two fights with LA in 2012, is also in line for selection for the Group A clash next weekend. England's Joe Joyce has also been named in the Italian side for the upcoming season. Meanwhile, the National Intermediate Championships continue today. Sessions begin at 10am, 2pm and 6pm at Dublin's National Stadium. Elsewhere, Ireland's young guns could be in action on day one of the European Junior Championships tomorrow. Ireland have an 11-strong squad in Anapa, Russia for the 26-nation tournament. Boxing commences tomorrow afternoon.