Irish pair drafted by Italia Thunder

Italia Thunder have drafted Ireland’s London 2012 bronze medallists Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan into their squad for the 2015 World Series of Boxing (WSB) season.

The Italians snapped up the Belfast pair at the international draft in Jeju, South Korea yesterdayahead of the start of the WSB season on January 16.

Ballymena’s Stephen Donnelly, Galway’s Gary Sweeney and Tipperary’s Dean Gardiner have also been drafted.

Donnelly will fight with the Hussars of Poland and Sweeney and Gardiner for the Mexico Guerreros. The WSB is run by the International Boxing Association (AIBA)

Conlan said: “I am very excited to represent Italia Thunder. WSB is a fantastic opportunity to compete against the best boxers in the world.”

Meanwhile, world boxing chiefs are set to pass a unanimous resolution in favour of the removal of head guards for Elite male boxers at the AIBA Congress in Jeju today.

Irish Amateur Boxing Association President Tommy Murphy and CEO Fergal Carruth are at the Congress ahead of the start of the AIBA World Women’s Championships in Jeju on Sunday.

Olympic champion Katie Taylor, Michaela Walsh, Joanne Lambe and Claire Grace will represent Ireland at the World Championships.