Fighting Irish fury at Italy cop-out

PRESIDENT of the IABA, Dominic O’Rourke has described the decision of the Italians to withdraw from Sunday night’s boxing international in Belfast after four bouts as extremely unsporting and totally unnecessary.

The Italians were still smarting after two of their stars, AIBA boxer of the year, Domenico Valentino, and 2007 world heavyweight champion Clemente Rossou had been beaten by Eric Donovan and Con Sheehan, respectively, in the first of two internationals at the National Stadium on Friday night.

And when David Oliver Joyce beat Valentino at the Donegal Celtic Club on Sunday night, they pulled out of the international with seven bouts remaining on the card.