Egan lines out for Miami in World Series

IRISH boxing fans will see Ken Egan as they never saw him before when he lines out for Miami versus Los Angeles in World Series of Boxing (WSB) clash tonight.

Egan, who won’t be wearing protective headgear or a vest, is included on the Miami Gallos team that will trade leather with the LA Matadors over five bouts in their opening WSB match.

Mexico City Guerreros and Memphis Force make up the Americas group. The Guerreros went top of the table with a 5-0 win when both sides met in Mexico City on Saturday.

Each side has 12 matches in the WSB Team Championships, with the top teams in the Americas, Asian and European groups plus the best runner up advancing to the semi-finals next March.

The WSB, which is fully endorsed by world amateur boxing chiefs AIBA, has dispensed with many of the rules of amateur boxing, although boxers competing in the Series won’t lose their Olympic status.

However, they won’t be wearing protective head gear or vest and bouts will be decided (barring KO’s or stoppages) on the 10-must system favoured in pro boxing.

Egan, a silver medal winner at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and a 10-time Irish senior champion, will meet Anthony Dorian of the USA in tonight’s duel.

The Dublin southpaw, who is part of a 14-man Miami squad, has moved up from his usual light-heavyweight (81Kg) category to cruiserweight (85Kg) for the WSB.

Meanwhile, Egan and John Joe Nevin will have an extra opportunity to qualify for the London Olympics in the WSB. The top ranked boxers in the WSB Team Championships will qualify for the Individual WSB Championships.

The winners from the five weight categories in the WSB Individual Championships will secure Olympic qualification.