Nevin starts likely exodus

John Joe Nevin believes more of Ireland’s world-class amateur boxers will inevitably follow him into the paid boxing ranks, but not because of anything he may achieve in a career which was mapped out in considerable detail in Dublin yesterday.

Nevin was speaking at a press conference to put some meat onto the bones of a decision long since flagged and addressed the issue of his former colleagues’ futures just moments after Paddy Barnes won his latest World Championship bout in Kazakhstan.

The Belfast flyweight has spoken openly about leaving Billy Walsh’s high-performing, high-performance unit. So too has Michael Conlan and Jason Quigley while Joe Ward is another who would have no shortage of suitors were he to turn pro.