Irish amatuer boxing squad for Russian visit named

The Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) have today named an eight-man squad for the upcoming double header of international meetings with Russia in Dublin and Athlone.

Both nations meet at the National Stadium in Dublin on Friday April 27 and at the Athlone Institute of Technology on Sunday, April 29.

The Russians have announced a nine-man squad, while Irish national senior heavyweight champ Ian Tims could be included on the Irish panel to match up the 81Kg category.

St Michael's Athy featherweight Eric Donovan will box in Dublin, as will heavyweight John Sweeney, who won silver at the GeeBee Senior Multi Nations tournament in Finland last weekend.

Eamon Tuohy, from the Moate club, has also been included on the Irish panel as has Ross Hickey and Carl Crawley who will double up at lightweight as the Russians have named two boxers in this Division.

Russia is one of the top amateur boxing nations in the world. At last years European Senior Championships in Bulgaria they claimed an incredible nine gold and two silver medals from eleven weight categories.

The Dublin meeting is a repeat of the May 2006 international which ended 4-4 at the National Stadium. Boxing will begin at 7.45pm at the National Stadium on Friday April 27.