There was an explosive start to last night’s Elite amateur boxing international between Ireland and France at the Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork, double bronze medallist Paddy Barnes leading out an Olympian one-two-three for the home side with a second-round stoppage of young light-flyweight Dylan Beccu, a stunning right hand right on the bell doing the damage.

Ireland’s boxers are back amongst the silverware in international competition just two weeks after the Olympics.

THE Boxing Council of the IABA selected Michael O’Reilly (Portlaoise) on the Irish team for the European Youth Championships which commence in the City West Convention Centre today.