Sutherland leads Irish Beijing charge

THREE Irish boxers bid to secure Olympic qualification in Athens later today.

Middleweight Darren Sutherland, light heavyweight Kenneth Egan and the young Mullingar light welterweight, John Joe Joyce, are all in semi-final action in this Olympic Qualifying tournament in the Greek capital. Victory guarantees progression to Beijing.

Sutherland, has the best chance of joining light fly, Paddy Barnes, and bantamweight, John Joe Nevin, in China.