CLEPSON dos Santos is determined to keep his Olympic dream alive after stealing the show at De L'Amistat-Boxa tournament last weekend.
The 19-year-old, part of a five-strong County Antrim side competing in Barcelona, came home with gold after a stunning short right hook dispatched Spain’s Mokhlis Aquach in the second round of their flyweight final.
And, having seen team-mates Teo Alin and Bryce Collins short-changed by the judges, coach Michael Hawkins jr warned Dos Santos about avoiding a similar fate.
“I wanted to go and get the three rounds under my belt,” he said, “but Teo won his fight handy and didn’t get the same decision, Bryce should have got the decision in his fight but didn’t, so after I won the first round handy, Michael said to me to go out and go for it because they could rob you.
“So I went out and put it on him…”
It was a first international outing of the season for Dos Santos and, with the Irish elite championships looming at the beginning of November, he hopes to force his way into the Paris 2024 frame.
The Banbridge teenager came up short against Dublin’s Sean Mari in January’s Irish decider but, with Mari failing to secure qualification at the European Olympic qualifier, the door remains open.
“I’m still pushing on for the Olympics,” he said.
“I have a camp with Scotland and Spain in Jordanstown this week, the Irish elites in November, hopefully get the win there and then look at the Olympic qualifiers next year. Getting to Paris is still the dream.
“It’s only really between me and him [Mari], I’m feeling far more confident – from the start of the year to now I’m a completely different boxer. I know he’s keeping a wee eye on me, watching some of my stuff, so he knows I’m coming.”
It has been a steep learning curve for Dos Santos since stepping up to elite level after turning 18, with the 2022 Commonwealth Games his first competitive outing at that grade.
He equipped himself impressively in Birmingham, and hard fights against experienced operators like Blaine Dobbins and Mari in the meantime will serve him well in years to come.
“No fighter likes to get beat, but Mickey [Hawkins sr] would be realistic with you – he’d tell you these are men, they’re more developed, they’re stronger, so be patient.
“He obviously gives you ways to work round that, but once you get to elite you need that bit more maturity. It’s all right as a youth and junior to have the talent, but your body needs to develop to be able to mix it with the bigger lads when you come to this level.
“The Commonwealths was a big learning curve and, although it’s only a year on, I feel I’m starting to mature and develop, and I’m able to hold my own with the older lads.
“I dropped a fella a couple of times back at the start of the year when I was last away - that’s when I started noticing I’ve got a wee bit of power about me, then I stopped this guy in Barcelona, so it seems to be coming together.”
Dos Santos wasn’t the only podium-topper in Barcelona on Sunday, as Commonwealth Games team-mate produced a classy performance to beat Italy’s Asia Farina by unanimous decision.
Bryce Collins had to settle for silver after losing out to Spain’s Jose Rachon on a split decision, with James McGuinness (St Monica’s) following suit, while it was bronze for Teo Alin.
Meanwhile, Alex O’Neill was named best referee and judge at the tournament.
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ULSTER SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS TO GET UNDER WAY
THE Ulster senior championships get under way at the Crumlin Star sports and social club on Wednesday night, with a number of eye-catching bouts getting the action under way.
Charles McDonagh (St John Bosco) takes on Holy Trinity’s Joseph McArdle in the 67kg: open quarter-final, while the semi-finals see the likes of Jack Douglas (Holy Family) going up against Bosco’s Cole Taylor at 60kg:, while Clonard’s Nathan Richmond faces Brian Morgan (Kronk) at 71kg:.
There is further semi-final action on Thursday night before Friday’s finals. Boxing begins at 7.30pm each night. Wednesday night’s draw is as follows:
Novice A quarter-finals - 63.5kg: S O’Dwyer (SJB Belfast) v E Hogg (Enniskillen); 63.5kg: E McCartney (Dockers) v T Hamill (Frank Gervin); 63.5kg: S Murphy (Armagh) v C McCann (Emyvale); 67kg: B Djazarely (Eastside) v C McCann (Ederney); 67kg: D Fox (St Monica’s) v J Turner (St John’s); 67kg: B Leonard (MACS) v R Gervickes (Emyvale); 67kg: J Kelly (Sacred Heart, Newry) v S Wardle (Ballyshannon); 71kg: D Tinnelly (St Bronagh’s) v B Dubious (Evolution); 80kg: M Burns (St George’s) v J Montgomery (Markethill); 80kg: A Judge (Gilford) v N Gasidrowski (Frank Gervin); 92kg: Caolan Bradley (St John’s) v R Higgins (Ring)
Novice B quarter-finals - 67kg: M Dohery (St Paul’s) v D Bogue (Dockers)
Open quarter-finals - 67kg: C McDonagh (SJB Belfast) v J McArdle (Holy Trinity); 67kg: C Brown (Oliver Plunkett) v C Henry (Coleraine)
Novice A semi-final - 54kg: S Og Fay (St Paul’s) v D Foran (Virginia)
Open semi-finals - 60kg: J Douglas (Holy Family) v C Taylor (SJB Belfast); 60kg: L McMahon (Glengormley) v C Boyce (Letterkenny); 63.5kg: L Mooreglass (Holy Trinity) v C Suttle (Erne); 71kg: B Morgan (Kronk) v N Richmond (Clonard); 75kg: C McLaughlin (Raphoe) v J McGuinness (St Monica’s)
Meanwhile, the closing date for entries and fees for the Irish senior championships is 5pm on Friday, with the draw on Tuesday, October 3. The action takes place on the weekends of October 6-8 and October 20-22.
