IRISH light-fly Brendan Irvine came from behind to upgrade his bronze medal to at least silver after a thrilling win over Dmytro Zamotayev of Ukraine at the inaugural European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan on Wednesday.
The Irish Elite champion dropped the first round on two of the three judges’ cards in a high-quality, high-octane 49kg last-four duel. But showing superb conditioning from three training camps with the Irish squad before these Games, the 19-year-old St Paul’s BC, Antrim ace took rounds two and three on all cards to post a 30-27, 29-28, 29-28 victory. Irvine will now meet Russia’s Bator Sagaluev in Thursday’s final over three three-minute rounds at 2.30pm (Irish time).
“I didn’t come here to take part," insisted the youngest member of the Irish squad in Baku.
I had to step it up after losing the first round. I knew he was tiring and my corner told me that he had nothing left in the tank and that gave me confidence and I went for it. I’ll be going for it again tomorrow.”
Irvine, courtesy of finishing in the top three in Baku, has now qualified for October’s AIBA World Elite Men’s Championships in Doha, Qatar, which is a qualifier for the Rio 2016 Olympics. If he finishes in a top two position in Doha (reaches the final), Ireland will have earned two Olympics places in the light-fly class, as Paddy Barnes has already claimed a 49kg quota place through the World Series of Boxing.
However, only one boxer can represent his or her country in each weight class at the Olympics and Irvine, if he wins at least silver in Doha, could end up in a box-off against Limerick’s Myles Casey for Ireland’s 52kg berth in Rio given that Paddy Barnes has already nailed down the 49kg spot.
Portlaoise BC middleweight Michael O’Reilly also made the semi-finals on Wednesday, the Irish Elite champion beating Slovenia’s Alijaz Venko 30-27 across the board after dominating in terms of skill and ring craft.
“It’s not bronze that Michael is looking for in Baku," said his club coach Pat Ryan.
“He’s nice and relaxed and he’s in a good place with excellent coaching staff around him in Baku. He expects to win.”
But Irish captain and London 2012 Olympian Darren O’Neill was very unlucky to be on the wrong end of a split decision to Gevorg Manukian in the heavyweight class. The Ukrainian won the first round of a hard-hitting battle of the southpaws on all cards, but O’Neill claimed frames two and three after splitting the judges in his favour. However, Manukian got the nod (29-28, 29-28, 28-29).
“There’s only a handful of Irish out here and the rest of the crowd booed the decision, that tells the story. I thought I did enough to win,” said O’Neill.
“I’m honest with my team-mates and they’re honest with me and they also thought I won, but that’s sport. The main thing is to put this behind me now and get out there and cheer my lungs out for Brendan.”
