Kenneth Egan has advanced to the next round of the light heavyweight boxing division at the Beijing Olympics following a win in his bout against Turkey’s Bahram Muzaffer this morning.

WHEN the Irish team assembled at O’Hare Airport for the return flight to Dublin after the world championships the atmosphere in the camp was one of tension as well as disappointment.

GARY KEEGAN who, as Director of High Performance, has masterminded Ireland’s current Olympic campaign is predicting wins for light heavyweight Kenneth Egan and light welterweight John Joe Joyce at the Worker’s Gymnasium tomorrow.

KENNY EGAN’S next Olympic opponent yesterday declared himself ‘the best boxer’ in the division ahead of their light heavyweight showdown on Thursday.

All five Irish boxers have made this mornings weigh-in for this afternoons European Union Championships finals at the National Stadium in Dublin.

EXCITING semi-final victories for Carl Frampton, Roy Sheahan, Darren Sutherland, a thrilling comeback for Cathal McMonagle and a walk-over for Kenneth Egan means that Ireland will have five finalists at the European Union boxing championships at the National Stadium this afternoon giving Ireland more finalists than any other nation in the tournament.

The fifth European Union Boxing Championships resume at the National Stadium in Dublin today with twenty quarter-final bouts down to be decided over the course of two sessions beginning at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.