Nevin’s Milan march finally ends

JOHN JOE NEVIN returns home tomorrow with a bronze medal from the world boxing championships after failing by just a single point in his bid to convert it to silver.

The 20-year-old Mullingar man lost to the talented Russian bantamweight, Eduard Abzalimov, 5-4, in a tactical and desperately close quarter-final in Milan yesterday.

The Russian, a former European junior champion and world junior silver medallist, snatched the only point scored in the first round and that would eventually prove decisive after the second round ended scoreless and they drew a thrilling third round 4-4.