Sport

LEFT HOOKS

Holy Family's Michaela Walsh (right) has been named in the Irish Amateur Boxing Association's five-strong squad for the European Women's Elite Championships in Bucharest, Romania in May/June. Olympic champion Katie Taylor will be aiming for the sixth successive European gold medal in the Romanian capital.

Taylor beat Russia's Sofya Ochigava in the 2011 European final in Rotterdam, Netherlands to claim her fifth European Elite title. The Bray woman also beat Ochigava in the 2012 World and Olympic finals.

Experienced Cavan BC international Ceire Smith will wear the Irish light-flyweight vest in Bucharest and former AIBA World Youth bronze medallist Walsh will line out at bantamweight.

Joanna Lambe and Clare Grace claimed silver medals at a round robin tournament in Germany last month. Lambe, Grace, Walsh, Smith and Taylor are current Irish Elite champions.

Boxing at the championships begins at the Polyvalent Hall in Bucharest on May 31.

* MEANWHILE, as part of her preparations for the European Championships, Katie Taylor will meet Croatia's Marija Petric and Switzerland's Anais Kistler on two St John's BC-hosted fights nights at the Rochestown Park Hotel on Thursday and Friday.

The AIBA world number one lightweight will then go four rounds with Kristin Carlson of the USA at the Dungarvan Sports Centre on Saturday. "It's crucial to have competitive bouts before a major championships and the three bouts in Cork and Waterford are ideal," said Taylor. "I had a number of bouts before the Olympics in Cork and Waterford and I got a fantastic reception and I'm looking forward to three tough bouts there this week."

* THE County Derry Amateur Boxing Board will stage the first Tommy McCann annual memorial presentation show in the Guildhall on Saturday.

This event is in honour of the board's former president, who had been involved in amateur boxing over many years and worked tirelessly to promote the sport throughout the country.

It will be a showcase of County Derry talent against an Ulster Select side.

Doors open at 7pm, with the first bout set to start at 8pm. Entry is £10 or £5 concession.

* THE weigh-ins for the Antrim Invitational competition will take place this Sunday at the Dockers Club in Belfast from 9am-10am. The competition is open to all Antrim and Down/Armagh boxers, and will be contested in the categories of youth, club level and open elite.

Entry is £5 per boxer, and the draw will be held after the weigh-in.

The action is set to take place at the Dockers Club from Tuesday, May 6-Friday, May 9, starting at 8pm each night.