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IABA UPDATE: IRELAND VERSUS FRANCE TEST MATCH

posted by mightygloves.com on February 5, 2008, in Amateur

France have agreed to a test match with Ireland at the National Stadium in Dublin this Wednesday.

The test match, which will be open to the public, will glove off at 7.30pm.

The Irish, English and French senior sides today began a six day training and sparring camp in the National Stadium.

All three countries are using the South Circular Road venue as part of their preparations for next summers Olympics and the second last Olympic qualifier for Europeans which begin in Pescara, Italy later this month.

Former World flyweight champion and double Olympic medal winner Jerome Thomas has been named in the French squad and could spar with Irish 2008 Olympian Paddy Barnes in Wednesdays test match.

Thomas won his world title in Barnes home town of Belfast in 2001 and claimed silver and bronze at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics in Sydney and Athens.

French 2008 Olympians Alexis Bastine and John Mbumba and Khedafa Bjelkhir are also with the French squad in Dublin.

England have also named a very strong squad, which includes reigning World lightweight champion and 2008 Olympian Frankie Gavin.

According to Gary Keegan, who directs the Irish Amateur Boxing Associations High Performance Unit, every boxer
taking part in this weeks training camp will get at least thirty rounds of sparring under their belts.

The second last Olympic qualifier for European boxers will take place in Pescara, Italy between February 24th and March 3rd.

Ireland will depart for their final training camp in Rome on February 16th before travelling to Pescara.




National Stadium Dublin Training and Sparing Camp February 4th/8th

Irish Senior Squad


48Kg: Paddy Barnes (Holy Family)
51Kg: Shane Cox (Gorey)
54Kg: John Joe Nevin (Cavan)
57Kg: David Oliver Joyce (St Michael's Athy)
60Kg: Ross Hickey (Grangecon)
64Kg: John Joe Joyce (St Michael's Athy)
69Kg: Roy Sheahan (St Michael's Athy)
75Kg: Darren Sutherland (St Saviours OBA)
81Kg: Ken Egan (Neilstown)
91Kg: Con Sheehan (Clonmel)
91+Kg: Cathal McMonagle (Holy Trinity)

English Senior Squad

48Kg: Paul Butler
54Kg: Joe Murray
54Kg: Michael McGuire
57Kg: Stephen Smith
60Kg: Frankie Gavin
69Kg: Neil Perkins
75Kg: George Groves
81Kg: Tony Jeffries
91Kg: Danny Price

French Senior Squad

51Kg: Jerome Thomas
54Kg: Ali Hallab
57Kg: Khedafa Bjelkhir
60Kg: Dadaouda Sow
64Kg: Alexis Bastine
69Kg: Jaoid Chigue
75Kg: Samy Anouche
81Kg: Adeljader Bouheina
91Kg: John Mbumba
91+Kg: Mohamed Samoudi


Worldwide Olympic qualifying calendar

Jan. 22 - 31 1st Africa Qualifying Algiers, Algeria
Jan. 24 - Feb. 3 1st Asia Qualifying Bangkok, Thailand
Feb. 24 - Mar 3rd - Europe Qualifying Pescara, Italy
Mar. 10 - Mar. 18 1st America Qualifying Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago
Mar. 15 - 25 2nd Asia Qualifying Astana, Kazakhstan
Mar. 22 - 31 2nd Africa Qualifying Windhoek, Namibia
Mar.TBD Oceania Qualifying TBD
Apr. 7 - 14 2nd Europe Qualifying Athens, Greece
Apr. 23 - 30 2nd America Qualifying Guatemala City, Guatemala
*Irish boxers failing to secure Olympic qualification in Pescara will compete in a box-off at the National Stadium in Dublin with the semi finalists from the 2008 National Senior Championships to decide the Irish squad for the final Olympic qualifier in Athens. The box-off will take place on March 14th/15th.


Bernard O'Neill
Public Relations Officer
Irish Amateur Boxing Association
Ph: 086 057 9558
Fax: 061 408627
bernard.oneill@oceanfree.net
www.iaba.ie

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