Irish Amateur Boxing Squad

Same concept as the Team GB thread I posted, but for the Irish squad.

Light-Flyweight: Paddy Barnes
Olympic Bronze, Commonwealth games Gold and 2010 European Gold Medallist Barnes is one of Ireland’s best hopes for 2012. Unable to defend his European title due to injury, he is one of the top light-flyweights in the world. He should qualify for 2012, and should be aiming for medals. Prediction: Silver.

Flyweight: Michael Conlon
Current Irish Elite Champion could struggle to qualify for the games. He reached the quarter finals of the European Amateur Champions held in Ankara recently, and holdS a win over the highly decorated Italian Vincenzo Picardi, but is still inexperienced at this level. Prediction: Will miss out by a whisker.

Bantam weight: John Joe Nevin
2008 Olympian and World Bronze Medallist should qualify for the games and has a real chance of winning a medal. He will not be one of the favourites but has an outside chance of a Bronze. Prediction: Quarterfinals

Welterweight: Adam Nolan

Middleweight: Darren O’Neill
Irish Team Captain O’Neill was a silver Medallist at the 2010 amateur boxing championships. He should qualify comfortably for the games and is in with a shout of a medal if he receives a favourably draw.

Paddy Barnes is pretty much the only realistic medal chance for Ireland in my opinion but Ward and Nevin are in with a good shout.

I havent updated this since 2011. Ward didnt qualify. Id say they all have decent prospects. I've got a few quid on Conlan. And being a North Belfast lad like Barnes, I stuck a bit on Barnes. But Ireland are a top boxing nation. One of the few, if not only, sports we can hold our own at, internationally speaking.

I thought Ward had qualified? My bad.

Still cant see many medals, very good at European level but when it comes to a true world stage, Ireland will struggle. Got to beat those pesky Cubans, Americans and English

The European is the hardest way to qualify. If you can compete at a European level, then you are World Class. Nah Ward was robbed by a Turk, in Turkey funnily enough, The Irish appeal was turned down. Hes only 18 so will be a real gold medal hope in Rio.

Ward was our best chance of a medal. He is a fantastic boxer and has the potential to one day be a world champion as a pro. I dont care about the olympics now because ward was cheated out of by some average turk. What a joke of an organisation.

Katie should get something in the female side. Ward was robbed of a spot, a feicing joke. Other lads are possible but you wouldn't put your house on them. Similar enough stuff was said last time though.


Expect 2 medals or so but they are probably capable of matching Beijing.

I have just read back on Ward. I thought that he had won an appeal at the time and would be going. Shocking decision.

I would be really happy with two medals but i feel that will be a stretch. Barnes is the only one i can realistically see getting a medal.

I disagree. John Joe Nevin is a two time bronze medallist at the World Championships. He is one of the best Bantams in the world. Michael Conlan reached the QF's at the World Championships, losing by a point to Selby, the eventual runner up. Everyone is saying he is the real dark horse at 52kg. There's a few of his fights on Youtube, have a watch, the boy is topclass. Darren O'Neill is a former European silver medallist, lost in the QF's to the eventual runner up by two points. He was fatigued badly in that bout, but should be there or abouts come medal time.

Adam Nolan doesn't have the pedigree that the others have, but won the Welterweight qualifier in Turkey, showing he can compete at this level. It will be an up hill task for him to medal mind you. It's quite possible we could win 3 boxing medals in total, as this is the closest to a home games that we are ever likely to get.

I mentioned Nevin earlier but i do believe that he will have a hard time of it. I just dont see many medals at all for Ireland here. I hope i am wrong though

If Ireland win 3 medals, i will be over the moon

I'd say medals from Taylor, Conlan and Nevin are definately achievable. Nevin will meet the World No1, in the QF's, should he get there, which is a very winnable fight for him. Better that than meet the Cuban or GB's Campbell.

Conlan should face the USA's Rau'shee Warren in the QF's. If Conlan brings the form he's been in over the past year, then again I'd back him to win that as well.

Should Barnes reach the QF's he will most likely meet the Mongolian former World Champ. Tough ask but if Barnes is on top form, very winnable.

Does anyone know what time the irish boxers are fighting?

John Joe Nevin is in around 10-15 mins. O'Neill in an hour or so.

6oldenbhoy wrote:John Joe Nevin is in around 10-15 mins. O'Neill in an hour or so.

Thanks

My guess is one of them may be going home without fighting.....

Is this about betting Thomond? What's happened?

Read this it might make things clearer. I think it has to be a boxer: http://www.rte.ie/sport/olympics/2012/0728/330921-betting-scandal-claim-hits-team-ireland/

John Joe is one down. Great performance 21-6.

Classly from Nevin, looked super slick. Looks like he'll be facing a Kazakh next.

O'Neill looked like he would have a brawl on his hands in the first but he was superb in the final two. Another one through.

Tough to look good against an opponent like that, so tall and rangy. O'Neill is by no means a small Middle, but he was dwarfed by the Nigerian. But a good way to shake of any rust that may have accumulated. Looks like he'll be facing a German in the next round.

Anyone know the times our boys are fighting?

Only Adam Nolan is on today. He'll be in the ring around 10pm.

Nevin was pure class yesterday. Darren O'Neill down by two after first round with Hartel.

Good effort by o'neill but just totally out classed

Hartel vs that GB fella Ogogo will be a very good match I'd say. Hard luck Darren, Hartel was very classy.

Dont the Irish have a female boxer thats supposed to be good? Katie Taylor? Why isnt she in the squad?

Katie Taylor hasn't had a fight yet, but she is in London, this eas more on the Male boxing side. Katie has a very decent medal shout.

Thomond wrote:Katie Taylor hasn't had a fight yet, but she is in London, this eas more on the Male boxing side. Katie has a very decent medal shout.

A decent medal hope is a understatement. She is the best female boxer in the world.

She was robbed before in a previous championship but we don't want to get ahead of ourselves. She is the best but the gap is a lot more smaller now she oculd get caught out is she doesn't box her best. A bronze minimum is what's expected though

Thomond wrote:She was robbed before in a previous championship but we don't want to get ahead of ourselves. She is the best but the gap is a lot more smaller now she oculd get caught out is she doesn't box her best. A bronze minimum is what's expected though

Id imagine Katie would be devestated with anything other than a gold.............

She would be and so would I but thsoe saying she is a complete lock are being a bit naive.

The GB boxers are already getting home town decisions. This is what i hate about amateur boxing. Its a joke but boxing continues as if nothing is wrong.

Did anyone see the daily telegraph newspaper labeling katie taylor as british. Pretty funny. But sure it was expected i suppose.

eirebilly wrote:Still cant see many medals, very good at European level but when it comes to a true world stage, Ireland will struggle. Got to beat those pesky Cubans, Americans and English

ye of little faith Billser....

Now that she's a Brit, hopefully Katie will get a Hometown decision

Countbacks are cruel! Great effort by paddy

Amazing effort - can be proud of that performance!

That was gutting 45-44 on the countback. Barnes gave it his all but that was devestating, clasy from him at the end reaing Zou's hand. He can hold his head up high. Nevin, 5-3 up after round 1.

Nevin just put in the performance of the Olympics - what a last round!

He was sueprb in every round, was on top for all them. Dowtcha John Joe kid!

Hard luck for Paddy but what a performance by John Joe. Classy as feck! Now just for Conlan to make it to the final with a bitta luck!

If Conlon makes the final does anyone know what time it will be at?

Presume it's on tomorrow?