Canal BC ace Kurt Walker with club coaches Noel Reynolds and Paddy McKay

Kurt Walker is guaranteed at least a bronze medal at the 2012 AIBA World Youth Championships following a magnificent win over Ian Clarke Bautista of the Philippines in Armenia today.

The Canal BC (Lisburn, Co. Antrim) flyweight dominated every round of the 52kg quarter-final in Yerevan to ensure that Ireland won’t be coming home empty handed from the 71-nation tournament.

C73B319

Walker, a five-time Irish champion, claimed the first frame 6-3, the second 6-4 and the third 7-5 to post an impressive 19-12 victory.

He’ll now be seeking to upgrade to at least silver from Thursday’s last-four meeting with  England’s Oliver Reece Simpson (Kelly’s ABC, Yorkshire).

Cuba’s Jorge Luis Cordero-Parlay and Jeyvier Cintron Ocasio of Puerto Rico clash in corresponding semi-final, also on Thursday.

Boxing2012 – AIBA Youth World Championships Day7 Semi-finals Schedule

Crumlin BC (Dublin) light-heavyweight John Joe McDonagh bowed out today after losing to Russian number one Idris Shakhmanov.

Shakhmanov held a 9-4 advantage going into the third round of this duel, and, despite a typically brave showing from McDonagh, who never stopped coming forward, won the last frame 6-3.

C73B324

McDonagh has the consolation of knowing that he has picked up at least 150 ranking points by virtue of reaching the quarter-finals in Yerevan.

The top eight boxers in each of the 10 weight divisions at the AIBA World Youth Championships earn points for the AIBA World Senior rankings.

Walker, a five-time Irish champion, is guaranteed at least 450 ranking points – and at least a bronze medal – courtesy of today’s decision.

The updated AIBA World Senior rankings will be published in early January and Walker and McDonagh will be in the mix  for the first time.

John Joe McDonagh

(AIBA World Youths ranking points: 1st (800),2nd(600),3rd(500),4th(450),5th(300),6th(250),7th(200),8th(150))

Speaking after today’s win, Jim Russell, Secretary and coach of the Canal BC, which was founded only three years ago, said the club were thrilled with the result from Yerevan.

Noel Reynolds and Paddy McKay also coach at the club.

Former WBA World featherweight champion and Irish Olympian Barry McGuigan, who described Walker as an outstanding talent, is club President.

“Kurt has flourished over the last two years and this is a fantastic boost for the club. It’s unbelievable and we’re thrilled with the win. Hopefully, he can now go on and win the gold medal,” said Jim Russell.

Wednesday is a rest day in Yerevan.

The semi-finals and finals will be held on Thursday and Friday.

Walker, who has won three bouts in Yerevan so far, and Simpson will be between the ropes at approximately 2.15pm (Irish time) Thursday.

2012 AIBA World Youth Championships Yerevan, Armenia

Preliminaries

November 29th

56kg: Chris Nevin (Ireland) beat Brec Mislav (Croatia) RSC2

64kg: Thomas Waites (Ireland) lost to Eimantas Stanionis (Lithuania) 6-14

November 30th

52kg: Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Giorgi Gabodze (Georgia) 14-7

81kg: John Joe McDonagh (Ireland) beat Aleksandar Jankovic (Denmark) 16-10

December 1st

49kg: Keith Flavin (Ireland) beat Pavel Gunchenko (Russia) 23-10

56kg: Chris Nevin (Ireland) beat Lin Sheng-Ling (Chinese Taipei) 19-10

69kg: Stephen Mulholland (Ireland) lost to Zhidi Zhang (China) 13-16

December 2nd

52kg: Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Suthin Masuk (Thailand) 13-6

60kg: Hughie Nevin (Ireland) beat Armarsanaa Badar-Uugan (Mongolia) 18-9

December 3rd (Last 16)

49kg: Keith Flavin (Ireland) lost to Andy Cruz-Gomes (Cuba) 13-21

52kg: Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Sam Kistohurry (France) 18-14

56kg: Chris Nevin (Ireland) lost to Stefani Gasparri (Italy) 6-7

60kg: Hughie Nevin (Ireland) lost to Raul Curiel-Garcia (Mexico) 13-18

81kg: John Joe McDonagh (Ireland) beat Eric Finau (New Zealand) 8-7

December 4th

Quarter-finals (Session begins 3pm Irish time)

52kg: Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Ian Clarke Bautista (Philippines) 19-12

81kg: John Joe McDonagh (Ireland) lost to Idris Shakhmanov (Russia) 7-15

December 6th

Semi-finals (approximately 2.15pm (Irish time)

52kg: Kurt Walker (Ireland) v Oliver Reece Simpson (England)

Irish squad

49kg: Keith Flavin (Paulstown)

52kg: Kurt Walker (Canal)

56kg: Chris Nevin (Holy Family Drogheda)

60kg: Hughie Nevin (Cavan)

64kg: Thomas Waite (Holy Trinity)

69kg: Stephen Mulholland (St Malachys)

81kg: John Joe McDonagh (Crumlin)

Team manager: Stephen Connolly

Coaches: Billy McClean and Tom Hayes

Physio: Conor McCarthy

Irish 2012 European Schoolboy Championships squad

The Elite Schoolboy Awards night will take place in the Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth, Co.Kildare on Friday night, December 14th, 2012.

This is the first time that an awards night has ever been run which caters specifically for Schoolboys. All last seasons Irish Champions at Boy 1, Boy 2, Boy 3 and Boy 4 will be honoured as will Cadet Champions at these age groups.

Boxers who participated in the Gormanston Summer Camp will also receive awards as will our most successful ever European Schoolboys Championship Team. This team returned home with 3 Gold medals, 1 Silver medal and 6 Bronze medals.

A number of special guests will attend on the night and the memory man, Jimmy Magee, will be the MC on this spectacular occasion.

Tickets are €30 which includes a meal, music and bar until late. Doors open at 7:15pm.

Tickets are available from Stephen Molloy 087-2021449, Paddy Gallagher 087-6286269 or they can be booked through any of the Schoolboy Coaches.

The Hotel are also providing special rates for people wishing to stay overnight but these should be booked early as a limited supply will exist. Why not make this your clubs ‘Christmas Party Night’ and make it a night to be remembered!

Sport & Concert venue Yerevan

Kurt Walker and John Joe McDonagh are just one win apiece away from claiming at least a bronze medal each at the AIBA World Youth Championships following last-16 wins in Armenia today.

Walker, who boxes out of the Canal BC in Lisburn, came from behind to beat French flyweight Sam Kistohurry in Yerevan.

Kistohurry took the first round 5-4 and extended his advantage to 11-9 by the end of the second, but Walker produced a storming third, winning the frame 9-3 to seal an 18-14 decision.

Kurt Walker and coaches

Crumlin BC light-heavyweight McDonagh lost the final stanza of his 81kg duel with Eric Finau 4-3.

C73B247

C73B242

C73B274

C73B261

C73B285

But the Dubliner had done enough in rounds one and two, frames which he won 2-1 and 3-2, to secure an 8-7 victory.

Hughie Nevin had been hoping to reach the last-eight in the lightweight class but lost a high scoring three-rounder 18-13 to Raul Curiel-Garcia of Mexico.

“Kurt and John boxed very well and Hughie gave it everything he had against a talented opponent, said Irish team manager Stephen Connolly.

“Kurt really turned it around in the third round. It was a real toe-to-toe battle with a very good boxer.”

Earlier today, Irish captain Keith Flavin bowed out to Andy Cruz-Gomez. The Cuban champion beat the Kilkenny light-flyweight 21-13.

Cruz-Gomez was 6-4 up after the first and held a 13-8 advantage going into the third.

John Joe McDonagh

Chris Nevin, meanwhile, was agonisingly edged out by a single point by Stefani Gasparri, the Italian winning 7-6 in the bantamweight class.

Nevin got off to a flying start and took the first round 3-1, but Gasparri won the second 4-2 to tie the bout at 5-5 and then shaded the final frame 2-1.

“It was a very tight contest and it could have gone either way. Chris won the first round but the Italian lad came back into it in the second, added Stephen Connolly.

“Keith gave it absolutely everything against a qualify opponent. He left everything in the ring.”

The Irish team manager also praised the contribution of physio Conor McCarthy, who is with the Ireland team in Yerevan.

“Conor is doing a superb job with the Irish squad. These are the people that work quietly behind the scenes and do such crucial work for Irish amateur boxing.”

Walker and McDonagh will be in action in the evening session in Yerevan tomorrow. The session gloves off at 7pm local time (3pm Irish time).

Walker will be between the ropes at approximately 3.15pm, followed by McDonagh at approximately 4.30pm.

Billy McClean and Tom Hayes are working Ireland’s corner in Yerevan.

2012 AIBA World Youth Championships Yerevan, Armenia

Preliminaries

November 29th

56kg: Chris Nevin (Ireland) beat Brec Mislav (Croatia) RSC2

64kg: Thomas Waites (Ireland) lost to Eimantas Stanionis (Lithuania) 6-14

November 30th

52kg: Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Giorgi Gabodze (Georgia) 14-7

81kg: John Joe McDonagh (Ireland) beat Aleksandar Jankovic (Denmark) 16-10

December 1st

49kg: Keith Flavin (Ireland) beat Pavel Gunchenko (Russia) 23-10

56kg: Chris Nevin (Ireland) beat Lin Sheng-Ling (Chinese Taipei) 19-10

69kg: Stephen Mulholland (Ireland) lost to Zhidi Zhang (China) 13-16

December 2nd

52kg: Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Suthin Masuk (Thailand) 13-6

60kg: Hughie Nevin (Ireland) beat Armarsanaa Badar-Uugan (Mongolia) 18-9

December 3rd (Last 16)

49kg: Keith Flavin (Ireland) lost to Andy Cruz-Gomes (Cuba) 13-21

52kg: Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Sam Kistohurry (France) 18-14

56kg: Chris Nevin (Ireland) lost to Stefani Gasparri (Italy) 6-7

60kg: Hughie Nevin (Ireland) lost to Raul Curiel-Garcia (Mexico) 13-18

81kg: John Joe McDonagh (Ireland) beat Eric Finau (New Zealand) 8-7

December 4th

Quarter-finals (Session begins 3pm Irish time)

52kg: Kurt Walker (Ireland) v Ian Clarke Bautista (Philippines)

81kg: John Joe McDonagh (Ireland) v Idris Shakhmanov (Russia)

Irish squad

49kg: Keith Flavin (Paulstown)

52kg: Kurt Walker (Canal)

56kg: Chris Nevin (Holy Family Drogheda)

60kg: Hughie Nevin (Cavan)

64kg: Thomas Waite (Holy Trinity)

69kg: Stephen Mulholland (St Malachys)

81kg: John Joe McDonagh (Crumlin)

Team manager: Stephen Connolly

Coaches: Billy McClean and Tom Hayes

Physio: Conor McCarthy

The IABA Schoolboys Lotto Draw Results:

Draw on 25/11/2012

Numbers Drawn 1, 8, 12, 15.

No jackpot winner. Two €20 winners – Barry McReynolds, Antrim and Stan Blanch, Wexford.

Draw on 02/12/2012

Numbers Drawn 3, 17, 20, 26.

No jackpot winner. Two €20 winners – Michael Langan, Foxford, Mayo and Mary Maughan, Blanchardstown, Dublin.

It’s going to be a busy day for Ireland at the AIBA World Youth Championships in Armenia on Monday.

Hughie Nevin and Kurt Walker joined team captain Keith Flavin, Chris Nevin and John Joe McDonagh in the last-16 with wins over Mongolia and Thailand today.

All five Irish boxers will be between the ropes on Monday in Yerevan.

C73B178

C73B216

Nevin posted a convincing 19-8 decision over Mongolian lightweight Armarsanaa Badar-Uugan to set up a meeting with Mexico’s Raul Curiel-Garcia at the Sports and Concert Complex.

The Cavan BC prospect was in top form and took all three rounds in his first outing at the Championships.

Walker, who has now recorded two wins in Yerevan, was trailing 2-1 at the end of the first frame versus Thai flyweight Suthin Masuk.

But the Canal BC ace produced big second and third rounds to claim a 13-6 verdict.

France’s Sam Kistohurry awaits in the next phase.

Flavin and Chris Nevin will be in action in the afternoon session tomorrow. Hughie Nevin, Walker and McDonagh will compete in the evening session.

The sessions start at 10am and 3pm (Irish time).

2012 AIBA World Youth Championships Yerevan, Armenia

Preliminaries

November 29th

56kg: Chris Nevin (Ireland) beat Brec Mislav (Croatia) RSC2

64kg: Thomas Waites (Ireland) lost to Eimantas Stanionis (Lithuania) 6-14

November 30th

52kg: Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Giorgi Gabodze (Georgia) 14-7

81kg: John Joe McDonagh (Ireland) beat Aleksandar Jankovic (Denmark) 16-10

December 1st

49kg: Keith Flavin (Ireland) beat Pavel Gunchenko (Russia) 23-10

56kg: Chris Nevin (Ireland) beat Lin Sheng-Ling (Chinese Taipei) 19-10

69kg: Stephen Mulholland (Ireland) lost to Zhidi Zhang (China) 13-16

December 2nd

52kg: Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Suthin Masuk (Thailand) 13-6

60kg: Hughie Nevin (Ireland) beat Armarsanaa Badar-Uugan (Mongolia) 18-9

December 3rd

49kg: Keith Flavin (Ireland) v Andy Cruz-Gomes (Cuba) (A)

52kg: Kurt Walker (Ireland) v Sam Kistohurry (France) (E)

56kg: Chris Nevin (Ireland) v Stefani Gasparri (Italy) (A)

60kg: Hughie Nevin (Ireland) v Raul Curiel-Garcia (Mexico) (E)

81kg: John Joe McDonagh (Ireland) v Eric Finau (New Zealand) (E)

A & E denotes sessions (afternoon & evening, local time) which begin at 10am and 3pm (Irish time)

Irish squad

49kg: Keith Flavin (Paulstown)

52kg: Kurt Walker (Canal)

56kg: Chris Nevin (Holy Family Drogheda)

60kg: Hughie Nevin (Cavan)

64kg: Thomas Waite (Holy Trinity)

69kg: Stephen Mulholland (St Malachys)

81kg: John Joe McDonagh (Crumlin)

Team manager: Stephen Connolly

Coaches: Billy McClean and Tom Hayes

Keith Flavin scored a landslide victory over Russian champion Pavel Gunchenko to book his ticket into the last-16 of the AIBA World Youth Championships in Armenia today.

The Kilkenny light-flyweight, who is Irish Team captain at the 71-nation tournament, dominated every round en route to a 23-10 decision in Yerevan.

C73B121

Flavin – and nothing is coming easy for the Irish champion who boxes out of the Paulstown BC – will now meet Cuban champ Andy Cruz- Gomez in the next phase two wins away from the medals stages.

Chris Nevin, meanwhile, followed that up with an equally impressive win over Chinese Taipei bantamweight Lin Sheng-Ling.

Nevin, who already has one victory under his belt in Armenia, was trailing after the first but produced a massive final round – obliging Sheng-Ling to take a standing count into the bargain – before posting a 19-10 decision.

Italy’s Stefani Gasparri, who beat Turkmenistan’s Yazmyrat Gurbanov today,awaits in the last-16 on Monday.

Stephen Mulholland was hoping to cap a perfect day for Ireland but lost 16-13 to China’s Zhidi Zhang in the 69kg class.

Mulholland won the last round of this contest but it wasn’t enough  to overturn the points deficit in a very close welterweight clash.

Hughie Nevin will be in action for the first time tomorrow, followed by Kurt Walker.

2012 AIBA World Youth Championships Yerevan, Armenia

Preliminaries

November 29th

56kg: Chris Nevin (Ireland) beat Brec Mislav (Croatia) RSC2

64kg: Thomas Waites (Ireland) lost to Eimantas Stanionis (Lithuania) 6-14

November 30th

52kg: Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Giorgi Gabodze (Georgia) 14-7

81kg: John Joe McDonagh (Ireland) beat Aleksandar Jankovic (Denmark) 16-10

December 1st

49kg: Keith Flavin (Ireland) beat Pavel Gunchenko (Russia) 23-10

56kg: Chris Nevin (Ireland) beat Lin Sheng-Ling (Chinese Taipei) 19-10

69kg: Stephen Mulholland (Ireland) lost to  Zhidi Zhang (China) 13-16

December 2nd

52kg: Kurt Walker (Ireland) v Suthin Masuk (Thailand)

60kg: Hughie Nevin (Ireland) v Armarsanaa Badar-Uugan (Mongolia)

December 3rd (last 16)

49kg: Keith Flavin (Ireland) v Andy Cruz-Gomes (Cuba)

56kg: Chris Nevin (Ireland) v Stefano Gasparri (Italy)

81kg: John Joe McDonagh (Ireland) v Eric Finau (New Zealand)

Irish squad

49kg: Keith Flavin (Paulstown)

52kg: Kurt Walker (Canal)

56kg: Chris Nevin (Holy Family Drogheda)

60kg: Hughie Nevin (Cavan)

64kg: Thomas Waite (Holy Trinity)

69kg: Stephen Mulholland (St Malachys)

81kg: John Joe McDonagh (Crumlin)

Team manager: Stephen Connolly

Coaches: Billy McClean and Tom Hayes

Ireland’s boxers recorded two wins from two at the 2012 AIBA World Youth Championships in Yerevan today, Kurt Walker and John Joe McDonagh advancing in the Armenian capital.

Boxing2012 – AIBA Youth World Championships Session8 Results

Walker, from the Canal BC in Lisburn, eased into the last-32 with an impressive 14-7 victory over Georgian flyweight Giorgi Gabodze.

C73B084

The Ulster teenager, who will meet Thailand’s Suthin Masuk in the next phase, held a 9-4 advantage going into the third and final frame before adding another five points to his tally.

McDonagh beat Denmark’s Aleksandar Jankovic 16-10 in the light-heavyweight class.

Jankovic, a gold medal winner at the 2012 Brandenburg Cup in Germany, was favourite to advance from this encounter and was being tipped to finish amongst the medals.

C73B090

But McDonagh, who boxes out of the Crumlin BC, hadn’t read the script and edged the first round 5-4

The Dubliner then produced a magnificent second frame to forge 13-6 ahead en route to victory.

Eric Finau of New Zealand now awaits in the last-16 on Monday.

Keith Flavin, Chris Nevin, who has already won one contest in Yerevan, and Stephen Mulholland will be in action against Russia, Chinese Taipei and China tomorrow.

Boxing2012 – AIBA Youth World Championships Day3 Schedule

2012 AIBA World Youth Championships Yerevan, Armenia

Preliminaries

November 29th

56kg: Chris Nevin (Ireland) beat Brec Mislav (Croatia) RSC2

64kg: Thomas Waites (Ireland) lost to Eimantas Stanionis (Lithuania) 6-14

November 30th

52kg: Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Giorgi Gabodze (Georgia) 14-7

81kg: John Joe McDonagh (Ireland) beat Aleksandar Jankovic (Denmark) 16-10

December 1st

49kg: Keith Flavin (Ireland) v Pavel Gunchenko (Russia)

56kg: Chris Nevin (Ireland) v Lin Sheng-Ling (Chinese Taipei)

69kg: Stephen Mulholland (Ireland) v Zhidi Zhang (China)

December 2nd

52kg: Kurt Walker (Ireland) v Suthin Masuk (Thailand)

60kg: Hughie Nevin (Ireland) v Armarsanaa Badar-Uugan (Mongolia)

December 3rd

81kg: John Joe McDonagh (Ireland) v Eric Finau (New Zealand)

Irish squad

49kg: Keith Flavin (Paulstown)

52kg: Kurt Walker (Canal)

56kg: Chris Nevin (Holy Family Drogheda)

60kg: Hughie Nevin (Cavan)

64kg: Thomas Waite (Holy Trinity)

69kg: Stephen Mulholland (St Malachys)

81kg: John Joe McDonagh (Crumlin)

Team manager: Stephen Connolly

Coaches: Billy McClean and Tom Hayes

Sports & Concert venue in Yerevan

Thomas Waites bowed out of the AIBA World Youth Championships following a preliminary round reversal to Eimantas Stanionis in Armenia today.

The Lithuanian, a gold medal winner at the 2012 Brandenburg Youth Cup in Germany – he beat Cork’s David Roche en route to gold at the tournament -, secured a 14-6 decision in Yerevan.

C73B041

Stanionis shaded the first frame of this clash but pulled away in the second round on his way to victory over the Belfast light-welterweight.

“It was a tough bout against a good opponent and Thomas performed very well considering that he was only called up to the squad as a late replacement  for David Roche,”said Irish team manager Stephen Connolly.

Earlier today, Chris Nevin got Ireland off to a flying start with an emphatic victory in Yerevan.

The Drogheda bantamweight stopped Croatia’s Brec Mislav in the second round to book his ticket into the last-16.

C73B018

Mislav took a standing count in the first – a frame which Nevin claimed 4-1 – and took another count early in the second before the ref called a half 1:22 into the stanza.

Nevin will now meet Lin Sheng-Ling of Chinese Taipei on Sunday.

Stephen Connolly, speaking after today’s win, praised Nevin’s performance.

“Chris boxed very well today and it was a fine performance. We’ve made a winning start and the team will be looking to build on that,” said Irish team manager Stephen Connolly.

Kurt Walker and John Joe McDonagh will be in action tomorrow.

2012 AIBA World Youth Championships Yerevan, Armenia

Preliminaries

November 29th

56kg: Chris Nevin (Ireland) beat Brec Mislav (Croatia) RSC2

64kg: Thomas Waites (Ireland) lost to Eimantas Stanionis (Lithuania) 6-14

November 30th

52kg: Kurt Walker (Ireland) v Giorgi Gabodze (Georgia)

81kg: John Joe McDonagh (Ireland) v Aleksandar Jankovic (Denmark)

December 1st

49kg: Keith Flavin (Ireland) v Pavel Gunchenko (Russia)

56kg: Chris Nevin (Ireland) v Lin Sheng-Ling (Chinese Taipei)

69kg: Stephen Mulholland (Ireland) v Zhidi Zhang (China)

December 2nd

60kg: Hughie Nevin (Ireland) v Petar Stoykov (Bulgaria) or Armarsanaa Badar-Uugan (Mongolia)

Irish squad

49kg: Keith Flavin (Paulstown)

52kg: Kurt Walker (Canal)

56kg: Chris Nevin (Holy Family Drogheda)

60kg: Hughie Nevin (Cavan)

64kg: Thomas Waite (Holy Trinity)

69kg: Stephen Mulholland (St Malachys)

81kg: John Joe McDonagh (Crumlin)

Team manager: Stephen Connolly

Coaches: Billy McClean and Tom Hayes

Chris Nevin and Thomas Waites will get Ireland’s AIBA 2012 World Youth Championships campaign underway with preliminary rounds bouts against Croatia and Lithuania tomorrow.

The 71-nation tournament begins at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex (pictured above) in Yerevan, Armenia on Thursday.

Members of Irish squad at today’s Opening Ceremony

Keith Flavin,  Hugh Nevin, Stephen Mulholland and John Joe McDonagh have all received byes, with Hughie Nevin awaiting the winner of the Bulgaria versus Mongolia clash.

Flavin will meet Russian champion Pavel Gunchenko on Saturday, while Mulholland is in against China on the same day.

Please see below attachments for complete draws involving Ireland.

Local times apply (see c08 attachment). Yerevan is four hours ahead of Ireland.

C08

C75W49

C75W52

C75W56

C75W60

C75W64

C75W69

C75W81

2012 AIBA World Youth Championships Yerevan, Armenia

November 29th

56kg: Chris Nevin (Ireland) v Brec Mislav (Croatia)

64kg: Thomas Waites (Ireland) v Eimantas Stanionis (Lithuania)

November 30th

52kg: Kurt Walker (Ireland) v Giorgi Gabodze (Georgia)

81kg: John Joe McDonagh (Ireland) v Aleksandar Jankovic (Denmark)

December 1st

49kg: Keith Flavin (Ireland) v Pavel Gunchenko (Russia)

69kg: Stephen Mulholland (Ireland) v Zhidi Zhang (China)

December 2nd

60kg: Hughie Nevin (Ireland) v Petar Stoykov (Bulgaria) or Armarsanaa Badar-Uugan (Mongolia)

Irish squad

49kg: Keith Flavin (Paulstown)

52kg: Kurt Walker (Canal)

56kg: Chris Nevin (Holy Family Drogheda)

60kg: Hughie Nevin (Cavan)

64kg: Thomas Waite (Holy Trinity)

69kg: Stephen Mulholland (St Malachys)

81kg: John Joe McDonagh (Crumlin)

Team manager: Stephen Connolly

Coaches: Billy McClean and Tom Hayes

2012 AIBA World Youth Championships venue

Proceedings on the Tsitsernakaberd Hill overlooking the historic city of Yerevan in Armenia will be the focus of attention for Irish boxing this week.

The Irish Youth squad are in situ in Yerevan and counting down to the opening bell of the 2012 AIBA World Youth Championships.

406 boxers from 71 nations will compete in the prestigious tournament.

The general weigh-in and draw will be held on Wednesday. Boxing commences on Thursday at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex on the Tsitsernakaberd Hill which dominates the western part of Yerevan.

The Irish team arrived in Armenia last week and are eager to get between the ropes reports Irish Team Manager Stephen Connolly.

“Preparations and training have gone very well the team is looking forward to the draw and the start of the tournament on Thursday. It promises to be very competitive as the best in the world at this level are here,” he said

The AIBA World Youth Championships is reserved for boxers aged 17 and 18. (born between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 1995). They will compete in ten weight categories: 46kg-49kg, 52kg, 56kg, 60kg, 64kg, 69kg, 75kg, 81kg, 91kg, 91+kg.

Ireland took home six medals – two gold, two silver and two bronze – from the last two AIBA World Youth Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan (2010) and Guadalajara, Mexico (2008).

Ray Moylette (gold), Joe Ward (gold), Jamie Kavanagh (silver), Ryan Burnett (silver), Tommy McCarthy (bronze) and Davey Joe Joyce (bronze) finished in podium positions.

Irish squad

49kg: Keith Flavin (Paulstown)

(2012 Irish Youth Champion. Brandenberg Cup 2012 bronze medallist)

52kg: Kurt Walker (Canal)

(2012 Irish Youth champion. Brandenburg Cup 2012 quarter-finalist)

56kg: Chris Nevin (Holy Family Drogheda)

(2012 Irish Youth champion. Brandenburg Cup 2012 bronze medallist)

60kg: Hughie Nevin (Cavan)

(2012 Irish Youth champion. Brandenburg Cup 2012 bronze medallist)

64kg: Thomas Waite (Holy Trinity)

(2012 Irish Youth Championships silver medallist)

69kg: Stephen Mulholland (St Malachys)

(2012 Irish Youth champion. Brandenburg Cup quarter-finalist)

81kg: John Joe McDonagh (Crumlin)

(2012 Irish Youth Championships semi-finalist)

Team manager: Stephen Connolly

Coaches: Billy McClean and Tom Hayes