WITH no light heavyweights in action, five holders will take the defence of their titles to the penultimate stage when the semi-finals of the national senior boxing championships get underway at the National Stadium tonight.

MIDDLEWEIGHT Darren Sutherland will make a welcome return to competitive action this tomorrow evening when he meets Ed Healy of Portlaoise in the semi-finals of the Seniors at the Stadium.

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

DARREN SUTHERLAND opens his bid for a first national senior title at the National Stadium tomorrow night when he meets Waterford's Keith Whelan (St Paul's) in the first of the middleweight semi-finals.