Seven Irish boxers were in action at the Round Robin tournament in Calais, France this evening…
Paddy Barnes (red) in action
Ireland’s 2012 Olympians experienced mixed fortunes in France tonight, with Paddy Barnes, Michael Conlan and Darren O’Neill recording wins, but John Joe Nevin and Adam Nolan losing out on Day 2 of the Round Robin tournament in Calais.
Belfast duo Barnes and Conlan beat Moroccan 2012 Olympians Darra Abdelali and Aboubakr Seddik Lbida, Barnes recording a 13-10 win and Conlan edging out Lbida on a countback following a 16-16 tie in Abbeville.
Conlan and Lbida received public warnings for slapping in the second round of this contest.
Nevin lost out to France’s Rachid Azzedine – a team-mate of his with Paris United in the World Series of Boxing -, Azzedine claiming a 15-11 decision.
Marutjan Arajk extended Germany’s lead to 2-0 in their head-to-head with Ireland after earning a 13-9 victory over Nolan.
Arajk’s victory arrived after Ross Hickey lost to Germany’s Artjam Daschyan. Hickey was tied at 7-7 going into the last frame of his encounter with the German light-welterweight, but despite producing a good final three minutes the Grangecon BC man was on the wrong end of a 14-12 decision.
Meanwhile, it was left up to the southpaws to level it up for Ireland versus Germany, with Darren O’Neill and Joe Ward recording a brace of victories.
O’Neill, who beat Morocco’s Badr-Eddine Haddioui 8-7 yesterday, beat Denis Radovan 8-7 today, and European light-heavyweight champion Ward power his way to a 12-5 decision over Kevin Kunzel to chalk up his second convincing win of the tournament.
The nine-man Irish squad will be back in action in Calais tomorrow.
Barnes, Conlan, Nevin, Nolan, O’Neill and Katie Taylor have qualified for the 2012 Olympics.
Results June 8th
49kg: Paddy Barnes (Ireland) beat Darra Abdelali (Morocco) 13-12
52kg: Michael Conlan (Ireland) beat Aboubakr Seddik Lbida (Morocco) 16-16 c/b
56kg: John Joe Nevin (Ireland) lost to Rachid Azzedine (France) 11-15
64kg: Ross Hickey (Ireland) lost to Artjam Daschyan (Germany) 12-14
69kg: Adam Nolan (Ireland) lost to Marutjan Arajk (Germany) 9-13
75kg: Darren O’Neill (Ireland) beat Denis Radovan (Germany) 8-7
81kg: Joe Ward (Ireland) beat Kevin Kunzel (Germany) 12-5
(No countback scores available)
Results June 7th.
52kg: Michael Conlan (Ireland) beat Elie Konki (France) 15-11
56kg: John Joe Nevin (Ireland) lost to Artur Schmitd (Germany) 12-13
60kg: David Oliver Joyce (Ireland) lost to Rachid Azzedine (France) 7-11
69kg: Adam Nolan (Ireland) beat Mehdi Khalsi (Morocco) 10-5
75kg: Darren O’Neill (Ireland) beat Badr-Eddine Haddioui (Morocco) 8-7
81kg: Joe Ward (Ireland) beat Amhed Barki (Morocco) 13-1
Irish squad Round Robin Calais France June 6th/9th
49kg Paddy Barnes (Holy Family)
52kg Michael Conlan (St John Bosco)
56kg John Joe Nevin (Cavan)
60kg David Oliver Joyce (St Michael’s Athy)
64kg Ross Hickey (Grangecon)
69kg Adam Nolan (Bray)
75kg Darren O’Neill (Paulstown)
81kg Joe Ward (Moate)
91kg Steven Ward (Monkstown)
Team manager: Des Donnelly
Coaches: Billy Walsh, Zuar Antia, Jimmy Halpin
R&J: Paul McMahon
Physio: Scott Murphy
