Daily Reports: EU
Championships
by Bernard O'Neill
June 20, 2009
(JUNE 20) The Irish squad weighed in this
morning ahead of today's European Union Championships finals in Odense,
Denmark. Six Irish boxers, Declan Geraghty, John Joe Nevin, David
Oliver Joyce, Willie McLaughlin, Darren O'Neill and Con Sheehan are all
three,
three minute rounds away from claiming gold at the Odense Sports Centre.
Speaking ahead of this afternoons deciders, Irish head coach Billy
Walsh, who will be working Ireland's corner along with Zuar Antia, said
that the squad was in a confident mood. He said: "Everyone has
weighed in okay and the lads are eager to get in the ring for today's
finals. If they perform to their full potential then it could be a
very successful afternoon. "Their confidence is high as this has
been a fantastic tournament for us as the entire nine man squad will be
taking home medals from Denmark. "Everyone is more than
capable of winning today - and that includes our opponents. It promises
to be a very exciting afternoons boxing." Boxing begins at 2pm
(Irish time) today.
European Union Finals Odense Denmark June 20th (3pm)
48Kg: Thomas Stubbs (England) v Lukasz Maszczyk (Poland)
51Kg: Declan Geraghty (Ireland) v Khalid Yafai (England)
54Kg: John Joe Nevin (Ireland) v Denis Makarov (Germany
57Kg: David Oliver Joyce (Ireland) v Sandro Schaer (Germany)
60Kg: Eugene Bunhard (Germany) v Thomas Stalker (England)
64Kg: Gyula Kate (Hungary) v Bradley Saunders (England)
69Kg: Willie McLaughlin (Ireland) v Balaza Bacskai (Hungary)
75Kg: Darren O'Neill (Ireland) v Stephen Alms (Denmark)
81Kg: Imre Szello (Hungary) v Obed Mbwakongo (England)
91Kg: Con Sheehan (Ireland) v Juan Augustin Aleman (Spain)
91Kg+: Istvan Bernath (Hungary) v Erik Pfeifer (Germany)
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June 18, 2009
Six Irish boxers are through to
eleven finals at the 2009 European Union Championships following semi finals
wins in Denmark today. Con Sheehan, Darren O'Neill, Willie McLaughlin,
David Oliver Joyce, John Joe Nevin and Declan Geraghty are one bout from
gold in Odense.
But Ken Egan,Philip Sutcliffe and Eric Donovan will have to be content with
bronze after they lost - Ireland's first defeats of the Championships -
their semi finals today. Geraghty produced one of the performances of
Thursday semi finals, the Dublin Docklands man beating Welsh flyweight Joe
Gage 19-1. And defending featherweight champion Joyce out gunned
Poland's Michal Chudecki by a nine point margin.
O'Neill is within one fight of a top of the podium finish following his
impressive win over Romanian middleweight Bogdan Juratoni, while Sheehan is
nine minutes from glory after his heavyweight semi final with England's
Warren Baiser was stopped in round one. Sheehan was 2-1 up when Baiser
was retired with a hand injury. Friday is a rest day at the
Championships. The finals will be held on Saturday afternoon.
Ireland's finals opponents will be confirmed shortly.
Thursday June 18th (Semi Finals)
51Kg:Declan Geraghty (Ireland) beat Joe Gage (Wales) 19-1
54Kg:John Joe Nevin (Ireland) beat Luke Campbell (England) 13-2
57Kg:David Oliver Joyce (Ireland) beat Michal Chudecki (Poland) 11-2
60Kg:Eric Donovan (Ireland) lost to Thomas Stalker (England) 7-13
64Kg:Philip Sutcliffe (Ireland) lost to Bradley Saunders (England) 3-8
69Kg:Willie McLaughlin (Ireland) beat Scott Cardle (England) 7-1
75Kg:Darren O'Neill (Ireland) beat Bogdan Juratoni (Romania) 16-6
81Kg:Ken Egan (Ireland) lost to Imre Szello (Hungary) 6-7
91Kg:Con Sheehan (Ireland) beat Warren Baister (England) RET1
Irish squad
51Kg (Flyweight) Declan Geraghty (Dublin Docklands)
54Kg: (Bantamweight)John Joe Nevin (Cavan)
57Kg: (Featherweight) David Oliver Joyce (St Michael's Athy)
60Kg: (Lightweight) Eric Donovan (St Michael's Athy)
64Kg: (Light welterweight)Philip Sutcliffe (Crumlin)
69Kg: (Welterweight) Willie McLaughlin (Illies GG)
75Kg: (Middleweight) Darren O'Neill (Paulstown)
81Kg: (Light heavyweight) Ken Egan (Neilstown)
91Kg: (Heavyweight) Con Sheehan (Clonmel)
Team Manager: Des Donnelly
Coaches: Billy Walsh & Zuar Antia
R&J: Larry Durand
Physio: Conor McCarthy
Strength & Conditioning: Peter Cleary
Sports Psychologist: Gerry Hussey.
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June 18, 2009
Ken Egan is out of the 2009
European Union Championships after slipping to a surprise 7-6 defeat to
Hungarian light heavyweight Imre Szello in Denmark today. Egan, a
silver medal winner at the 2008 Olympics, was targeting his third EU gold on
the trot in Odense.
But the Neilstown clubman found himself 3-0 in arrears at the end of the
first stanza before leveling affairs in the second frame. Both boxers found
their target in a see saw third and concluding round - but Szello registered
the winning score in the final few seconds to advance to Saturdays 81Kg
final. Meanwhile, Donegal ace Willie McLaughlin continued his
excellent form at the Championships with a 7-1 win over English light
welterweight Scott Cardle this afternoon. But lightweight Eric Donovan
has to be content with bronze after he was beaten 13-7 by England's Tom
Stalker. Earlier today, Irish 2008 Olympian John Joe Nevin beat
reigning European bantamweight champion Luke Campbell of England 13-2.
Nevin, the current European Union champion, advanced to the 54Kg final after
producing a performance which Irish head coach Billy Walsh, who is working
Ireland's corner in Odense along with Zuar Antia, described as "world
class". The rest of the nine man Irish squad will be in the ring for
semi finals bouts this evening.
Thursday June 18th (Semi Finals)
51Kg:Declan Geraghty (Ireland) v Joe Gage (Wales) (evening)
54Kg:John Joe Nevin (Ireland) beat Luke Campbell (England) 13-2
57Kg:David Oliver Joyce (Ireland) v Michal Chudecki (Poland) (evening)
60Kg:Eric Donovan (Ireland) lost to Thomas Stalker (England) 7-13
64Kg:Philip Sutcliffe (Ireland) v Bradley Saunders (England) (evening)
69Kg:Willie McLaughlin (Ireland) beat Scott Cardle (England) 7-1
75Kg:Darren O'Neill (Ireland) v Bogdan Juratoni (Romania) (evening)
81Kg:Ken Egan (Ireland) lost to Imre Szello (Hungary) 6-7
91Kg:Con Sheehan (Ireland) v Warren Baister (England) (evening)
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June 18, 2009 - Update
Irish 2008 Olympian John Joe
Nevin beat reigning European bantamweight champion Luke Campbell of England
13-2 in the semi finals of the European Union Championships in Odense,
Denmark this afternoon. Nevin, the reigning European Union champion,
is now through to Saturdays 54Kg final after producing a performance which
Irish head coach Billy Walsh, who is working Ireland's corner in Odense
along with Zuar Antia, described as "world class". Eric Donovan,
Willie McLaughlin and Ken Egan will be in action over the next two hours.
The rest of the nine man Irish squad will be in the ring for semi finals
bouts this evening.
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June 17, 2009
The entire Irish squad are
guaranteed at least nine bronze medals at the European Union Championships
following six quarter finals wins in succession in Denmark today.
Declan Geraghty, David Oliver Joyce, Darren O'Neill, Willie McLaughlin, Eric
Donovan and Philip Sutcliffe joined Ken Egan, John Joe Nevin and Con Sheehan
in tomorrows semi finals in Odense. Geraghty, McLaughlin and Donovan
all advanced following convincing wins this afternoon. And
Joyce, Sutcliffe and O'Neill followed that hat-trick up with a treble of
their own tonight.
Today's wins stretch Ireland's victories at the Championships to thirteen in
a row since last Monday. The semi finals - which will feature five
bouts versus England - will be held over two sessions tomorrow.
Friday is a rest day at the tournament which is featuring twenty nations.
The finals will be held on Saturday June 20th.
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June 17, 2009 - Update
Ireland's blistering start to
the 2009 European Union Championships continued unabated today after three
boxers chalked up quarter final wins in Odense, Denmark. Declan
Geraghty, Eric Donovan and Willie McLaughlin all had their hands raised in
victory to maintain the Irish squads perfect start to the Championships
after ten bouts. Geraghty beat French flyweight Nordine Ait Ihay 12-0
and Donovan followed that up with a 12- 1 win over Dutch lightweight Husnu
Kocabas. McLaughlin completed the hat-trick, earning a 13-4 decision over
Slovakian light welterweight Ladislav Takecs. The wins ensure that six Irish
boxers - Geraghty, Donovan, McLaughlin, Ken Egan, John Joe Nevin and Con
Sheehan, who received a bye into the last four - are guaranteed at least
bronze. David Oliver Joyce, Darren O'Neill and Philip Sutcliffe will
be in action tonight. If all three win the entire nine man Irish squad
will be assured of at least one bronze medal each.
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June 16, 2009
David Oliver Joyce, Darren
O'Neill, John Joe Nevin, Philip Sutcliffe and Ken Egan will be in action
today at the European Union Championships in Odense Denmark. Joyce,
O'Neill, Nevin and Sutcliffe will be involved in last 16 bouts. But
Egan, who beat Constantin Bejenaru of Romania 18-4 last night, will face
Eric Skoglund of Sweden in the quarter finals.
Nevin, Joyce and Egan are defending the bantamweight, featherweight and
light heavyweight EU titles titles they won in Poland last year.
Joyce and O'Neill will be between the ropes this afternoon, while Nevin,
Sutcliffe and Egan will be in action in this evenings session.Today's
sessions begin at 2pm and 7pm. Odense is one hour ahead of Ireland.
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June 15, 2009
Tipperary heavyweight Con
Sheehan has received a bye straight into the semi finals of the 2009
European Union Championships
in Odense, Denmark where he'll meet England's Danny Price on Thursday.
Willie McLaughlin and Ken Egan will begin Ireland's EU campaign this evening
(June 15th) with last 16 bouts versus Erkan Bingol of Turkey and Constantin
Bejenaru of Romania. Meanwhile, Beijing Olympian John Joe Nevin faces Polish
bantamweight Mateusz Mazik in Wednesday's 54Kg quarter final in a repeat of
the 2008 European Union final which Nevin won 10-4 in Cetniewo, Poland.
The 2009 Championships gets underway with ten bouts at the Odense Sports
Centre in Denmark tonight. Boxing begins at 7.30pm (local time).
Odense is one hour ahead of Ireland. Friday is a rest day at the
Championships which are featuring 20 nations. The finals will be held on
Saturday.
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June 10, 2009
Irish light heavyweight Ken Egan
will begin his quest for a third European Union Championships gold medal in
a row with a last 16 clash versus Romania's Constantin Bejenaru at the
Odense Sports Centre in Odense, Denmark tonight. This evenings meeting
will be Egan's first international contest since he lost the 81Kg Olympic
final to China's Xiaoping Zhang in Beijing last August. The Egan
versus Bejenaru showdown is a repeat of the 2007 European Union final which
Egan won 23-17 at the National Stadium in Dublin. Meanwhile, Irish
69kg champion Willie McLoughlin will also be in action this evening versus
Turkish welterweight Erkan Bingol. Belfast light flyweight Paddy
Barnes withdrew from the Championships on Saturday after suffering a
recurrance of a bronchial infection. Boxing begins at 7.30pm tonight
(local time). Odense is one hour ahead of Ireland. Full draw to
follow.
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June 10, 2009
The IABA will be hoping to
maintain a proud record when the opening bell for the 2009 European Union
Championships tolls in Odense, Denmark next Monday evening. The Irish squad
are presently in training camp in Paris with their French counterparts ahead
of the tournament which has attracted 20 nations. Irish boxers have
claimed eight gold, seven silver and four bronze medals at European Union
Championships level since the inaugural tournament in Strasbourg, France in
2003.
Dublin light heavyweight Ken Egan leads the way with a record haul of three
gold, one silver and one bronze. Ireland took home five medals from
Strasbourg - but Andy Lee and Egan, with Ireland's first gold medal win at
this level in Italy in 2005 - were the only Irish boxers to finish in podium
positions at the 2004,2005 and 2006 Championships.
However, the medals started rolling in one year later at the National
Stadium in Dublin after Egan, Darren Sutherland, Roy Sheahan, Carl Frampton
and Cathal McMonagle plundered three gold's and two silvers. That haul
saw Ireland finish on top of the medals table in the 21 nation tournament.
One year later Irish boxers surpassed that total away from home, Egan,
Sutherland, David Oliver Joyce, John Joe Nevin, Paddy Barnes and Con Sheehan
winning four gold and two silver medals. England won four gold, three
silver and one bronze at the same tournament. But in the only direct
head-to-heads between both nations, Egan beat Tony Jeffries and Sutherland
beat James DeGale in the 81Kg and 75Kg finals. Both bouts were
forerunners for the light heavyweight and middleweight Olympic semi finals
in Beijing in August 2008. Egan can create a unique piece of EU
Championships boxing history by becoming the only Irish boxer to win three
gold's in a row if he finishes on top of the 81Kg rostrum at the Odense
Sports Centre in Denmark next week.
Tuesday June 16th (Last 16)
57Kg:David Oliver Joyce (Ireland) beat Denis Ceylan (Denmark) 11-8
64Kg:Philip Sutcliffe (Ireland) beat Steven Sharoudi (Scotland) RSC2
75Kg:Darren O'Neill (Ireland) beat Ulus Kaya (Turkey) RET2
Tuesday June 16th (Quarter Finals)
54Kg:John Joe Nevin (Ireland) beat Mateusz Mazik (Poland) 13-1
81Kg: Ken Egan (Ireland) beat Eric Skoglund (Sweden) 10-6
Wednesday June 17th (Quarter Finals)
51Kg:Declan Geraghty (Ireland) beat Nordine Ait Ihay (France) 12-0
57Kg:David Oliver Joyce (Ireland) beat Ian Weaver (England) 9-6
60Kg:Eric Donovan (Ireland) beat Husnu Kocabas (Holland) 12-1
64Kg:Philip Sutcliffe (Ireland) beat Marcin Legowski (Poland) 14-4
69Kg:Willie McLaughlin (Ireland) beat Ladislav Takecs (Slovakia) 13-4
75Kg:Darren O'Neill (Ireland) beat Eneste Glodi (Norway) 13-2
Thursday June 18th (Semi Finals)
51Kg:Declan Geraghty (Ireland) v Joe Gage (Wales)
54Kg:John Joe Nevin (Ireland) v Luke Campbell (England)
57Kg:David Oliver Joyce (Ireland) v Michal Chudecki (Poland)
60Kg:Eric Donovan (Ireland) v Thomas Stalker (England)
64Kg:Philip Sutcliffe (Ireland) v Bradley Saunders (England)
69Kg:Willie McLaughlin (Ireland) v Scott Cardle (England)
75Kg:Darren O'Neill (Ireland) v Bogdan Juratoni (Romania0
81Kg:Ken Egan (Ireland) v Imre Szello (Hungary)
91Kg:Con Sheehan (Ireland) v Warren Baister (England)
Irish squad
51Kg (Flyweight) Declan Geraghty (Dublin Docklands)
54Kg: (Bantamweight)John Joe Nevin (Cavan)
57Kg: (Featherweight) David Oliver Joyce (St Michael's Athy)
60Kg: (Lightweight) Eric Donovan (St Michael's Athy)
64Kg: (Light welterweight)Philip Sutcliffe (Crumlin)
69Kg: (Welterweight) Willie McLaughlin (Illies GG)
75Kg: (Middleweight) Darren O'Neill (Paulstown)
81Kg: (Light heavyweight) Ken Egan (Neilstown)
91Kg: (Heavyweight) Con Sheehan (Clonmel)
Team Manager: Des Donnelly
Coaches: Billy Walsh & Zuar Antia
R&J: Larry Durand
Physio: Conor McCarthy
Strength & Conditioning: Peter Cleary
Sports Psychologist: Gerry Hussey.
Irish European Union Championships Roll of Honour
2003:Strasbourg, France
54Kg: Brian Gillan (Bronze)
50Kg: Andrew Murray (Bronze)
64Kg: Paul McCloskey (Silver)
81Kg: Ken Egan (Silver)
91Kg: Alan Reynolds (Bronze)
2004:Madrid Spain
75Kg: Andy Lee (Silver)
2005: Sardinia, Italy
81Kg: Ken Egan (Gold)
2006: Pecs, Hungary
81Kg: Ken Egan (Bronze)
2007: Dublin, National Stadium
57Kg: Carl Frampton (Silver)
69Kg: Roy Sheahan (Gold)
75Kg: Darren Sutherland (Gold)
81Kg: Ken Egan (Gold)
91+Kg: Cathal McMonagle (Silver)
2008: Cetniewo, Poland
48Kg: Paddy Barnes (Silver)
54Kg: John Joe Nevin (Gold)
57Kg: David Oliver Joyce (Gold)
75Kg: Darren Sutherland (Gold)
81Kg: Ken Egan (Gold)
91Kg: Con Sheehan (Silver)
2009: Odense, Denmark June 14th/21st
51Kg; Declan Geraghty
54Kg; John Joe Nevin
57Kg: David Oliver Joyce
60Kg: Eric Donovan (Bronze)
64Kg: Philip Sutcliffe
69Kg: Willie McLaughlin
75Kg: Darren O'Neill
81Kg: Ken Egan (Bronze)
91Kg: Con Sheehan
