Ireland’s five boxing clever
Cathal McMonagle staged another storming comeback, winning the third round 13-6 before taking total control of the super-heavyweight semi-final against Cristian Ciocan (Romania) for a sensational 32-25 victory.
Kenneth Egan got a walk over last night when his opponent, Mario Sivolija, withdrew with a broken jaw sustained in the quarter-finals and he will meet Bjenaru Constantin (Romania) who outpointed Bahram Muzaffer (Turkey) 25-3 in their semi-final.
Roy Sheahan’s opponent, Dimitar Stilianov (Bulgaria), had two gold medals and one silver from the European championships and was beaten by Amir Khan at the Athens Olympics but the Athy man, back to his very best, made him appear like average, luring him into a dangerous right hand, pounding him with a relentless left hook to take total control of the contest. He had a six point lead after two rounds and continued to build on that en route to a clearcut 19-8 victory.
“He’s been around a while — probably since I started boxing,” Sheahan said. “I knew that if I got the points up he would have to come to me. It worked out for me at the start, I got the points up and then when he came to me I was able to pick him off.”
He will meet Xavier Noel (France) in today’s final. The French man beat Adem Kilicci (Turkey) 16-12 in his semi-final.
Darren Sutherland enjoyed a short route victory in his middleweight semi-final when his opponent, Italian Ivano Del Monte had to retire at the end of the third round with a badly cut right eye.
Sutherland had come from a three point first round deficit to stun the Italian with some vicious shots to the head and body and he was leading 21-12 when the doctor was called to Del Monte’s corner at the end of the third round. It was Sutherland’s second victory over the Italian. “He was a tricky customer,” he admitted. “Exactly the same thing happened in Croatia, I was down after the first round but I didn’t panic and once I got my body shots on target I knew it would take a hell of a lot out of him because it takes a hell of a lot out of me throwing them. They are not really scoring jabs here. They are only scoring solid shots — lefts hooks and straight rights.
“I think he was the tricky one in the draw. Degale is going to be a bit elusive but does not have the same whip. I beat him in the multi-nations in Liverpool (27-13) and then at the Four Nations championships here (10-9). I am in great condition and I think it will be an exciting fight.”
James Degale (England) qualified for the final by beating Frenchman 24-6 in his semi-final.
Carl Frampton, conceding height and reach, produced the performance of his career to outpoint the lanky Polish southpaw, Michal Chudecki, 19-10 in an action-packed featherweight semi-final.
“I knew that if I got a lead up it would be all right,” Frampton said, reflecting on how he built up a commanding lead. “He is not good at chasing a lead so now I just moved around the ring and enjoyed myself for the last round.
“He was awkward enough and it took me a wee while to get to him. Once I did my right hand to the body did a lot of damage but he also caught me with a few of the same shots. But it was working for me and I had him on the back foot.”
He will meet Khedafi Djelkhir from France in today’s final. Djelkhir overwhelmed Yakup Kilic (Turkey) 32-6 in his semi-final but Frampton is confident ahead of the final.
Former world featherweight champion, Barry McGuigan, was present to watch yesterday’s action at the stadium where he was once a star billing.
“I think Darren Sutherland is probably one of the finest young talents we have had in a long, long time. He is a kid that could be a world champion as a pro. He has got to make a decision fairly soon. He is going for the world championships in October but he is an exceptional talent — banger, boxer, and he has the type of style that would be able to accommodate professional boxing very well.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
