Ireland off to winning start as Moylette proves a knock-out

RAY MOYLETTE got Ireland’s European Championships campaign off to a winning start after easing into the last-16 with victory over Subhi Amara in Ankara, Turkey yesterday.

The St Anne’s BC Mayo star, a gold medal winner at the 2008 AIBA World Youth Championships in Mexico, stopped the Israeli puncher in the second round Moylette was 8-2 ahead after the first frame and the fight was ended after Amara took a third standing count in the second with his opponents 19-4 ahead. He’ll now meet Serbia’s Ljubomir Marjanvic in the last-16 on Monday two fights away from at least a bronze medal.

IABA Director of Boxing Dominic O’Rourke said: “Ray got us off to a winning start and that gives the squad a great boost. He was our only boxer in Friday and he produced a fantastic performance. His timing was brilliant and he was very focused on what he had to do. We’re delighted to get off to a winning start out here.”

Meanwhile, AIBA World bronze medallist John Joe Nevin, Willie McLaughlin, Con Sheehan and Cathal McMonagle are all in action today. Nevin faces a tough task against Ukrainian bantamweight Pavlo Ischenko but is ready for the challenge.

He said: “My target out here is to get amongst the medals and I’m focused on what I have to do the get there.”

Meantime, Irish captain Darren O’Neill is a favourite to advance at the expense of Germany’s Denis Radovan tomorrow. Michael McDonagh and Michael Conlon will also be between the ropes tomorrow. World Youth champion Joe Ward trades leather with Estonian light-heavyweight Ainar Karlson on Monday in the last-16.