Geraghty secures Veli victory

DECLAN GERAGHTY earned his place among the last 16 flyweights when outpointing Mumin Veli of Macedonia 11-9 at the World boxing championships in Milan yesterday.

However, there was disappointment for Eric Donovan who lost the last round 8-1 and the contest 11-6 to make his exit from the tournament.

Geraghty will meet a young Mongolian, Tugsisogt Nyambaya, who is technically very good for a place in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.

A disastrous third round cost Eric Donovan his place in the last 16. The St Michael’s, Athy, lightweight won the first round 4-1 when he appeared to have the measure of Indian lightweight, Jai Bhagwan.

But he allowed Bhagwan to creep back into the fight in the fight in the second round which the Indian won 2-1.

Bhagwan grew in confidence in the third round when he began to get through with accurate if not telling punches while using the ring to keep out of the Athy southpaw’s range and he had enough in hand to wrap up the fight in the last minute.

Tonight will see Olympic bronze medallist, Paddy Barnes, in action for the first time at those championships when he meets Peter Munka (Kenya) in his opening contest this morning but he will face a big obstacle in his next contest when his likely opponent will be the Cuban light flyweight, Ramos Matellon, who meets Rashid Fateh (Pakistan) this morning.

Bantamweight John Joe Nevin had a big win midweek and he will be looking for more of the same when he meets Nikola Magovac (Serbia) tonight also. And middleweight, Darren O’Neill, will also touch gloves with an East European tonight when he meets Stipica Brekalo (Croatia) for a place in the last 16.

Olympic silver medallist. Kenny Egan, will be in action tomorrow afternoon when he meets Mohammad Qadir Sutani (Afghanistan).

Featherweight David Oliver Joyce who was spectacular in his opening contest meets a tidy Mexican, Oscar Valdez, in tomorrow morning’s session.

Clonmel heavyweight, Con Sheehan, has an enormous task ahead of him when he goes in against Osmai Acosta Duarte of Cuba for his first contest tomorrow night but it is a fight that Irish coach, Billy Walsh, is looking forward to it.