JOE WARD (Moate) got his defence of his light heavyweight title off to a flying start at the Elite National finals at the National Stadium last night and immediately threw down the gauntlet to Kenny Egan, who he beat to claim it last year.

KENNY EGAN kept his Olympic dream alive with an emphatic victory over fellow Dubliner Michael Frayne (St. Mary’s) in the Elite Boxing Championship quarter-finals at the National Stadium on Saturday night.

KENNETH EGAN began his quest for an unprecedented 11th successive national senior title at the National Stadium last night with a second-round stoppage of Thomas Roohan (Ballincarrow, Sligo) and a claim that the only man who can beat him is himself.

CON SHEEHAN (Clonmel BC),the defending champion, andthe new pretender to the throne, Tommy McCarthy (Oliver Plunkett, Belfast), served up the best performance of an action packed weekend when they met in the quarter finals of the heavyweight division at the Elite national boxing championships at the National Stadium on Saturday night.

The Four Nation International Cadet Championships got underway at 6pm this evening with twenty two bouts at the National Stadium in Dublin. Ireland, Germany, Sweden and Lithuania are taking part in this years event which concludes on Sunday next (June 3rd).