THE battle for Irish boxing’s light welterweight division takes place at the National Stadium tonight when Philip Sutcliffe (Crumlin) bids to cement his position at the top and a place in the team for the world boxing championships in Milan next September.

JOHN Joe Joyce moved within one bout of a place on the Irish team for next month’s European Championships in Liverpool following a convincing win over Philip Sutcliffe in the semi-finals of the Open Senior Competition at the National Stadium in Dublin on Saturday night.

IRISH boxers face a busy week ahead with both the senior and junior champions in action abroad and the number twos in action against Wales in the first major international of the year at the National Stadium tonight.

LIMERICK’S Andy Lee is on course to become the star of this season’s national senior boxing championships with just Eamonn O’Kane blocking his route to the 75kg (middleweight) title at the National Stadium tomorrow night.

ANDY LEE (St Francis) will be back in action at the National Stadium tomorrow night when the AIBA stage an action-packed international programme involving Germany at boys and junior level and Belgium at senior level, with 13 bouts in all down for decision.