IRELAND’S amateur boxers got off to a flying start in the multi-nations tournament in Zagreb — the Zlatio Hebid 2007 — yesterday with David Oliver Joyce particularly impressive in his fourth round stoppage of Amtomin Lazoc (Czech Republic) in a hard-hitting featherweight contest.

KENNETH EGAN took just 22 seconds to claim his seventh successive national senior title — his fifth at light heavyweight — and he immediately turned his attentions to qualification for next year’s Olympic Games after overwhelming Willie Mitchell in what was the mismatch of the night at the national senior championship finals at the National Stadium last night.

ERIC DONOVAN, a gold medallist at the multi-nations tournament in Ostrava, provided Ireland with a much-needed victory in his featherweight contest against the Polish champion, Michal Chudecki.

DARREN O’NEILL tonight appears in an international vest at the National Stadium for the first time when he climbs into the ring against Poland.

DARREN SUTHERLAND (St. Saviours OBA) added the national senior title to his CV with a power-packed performance that overwhelmed Edward Healy (Portlaoise) in the third round of their middleweight final at the finals of the National senior championships last night.

DARREN SUTHERLAND looks set to fulfil another ambition tonight by claiming a national senior title at the National Stadium.

ST. Michael’s, from Athy, will have five boxers in the national senior boxing championship finals, next Friday night.

Brendan Mooney