Irish boxers through to quarter finals

Irish middleweight Darren O'Neill and super heavyweight Cathal McMonagle are through to the quarter finals of the Ustinad Laben Senior Multi Nations following impressive victories in the Czech Republic tonight (May 16th).

But bantamweight Ryan Lindberg and lightweight Eric Donovan are both out of the tournament after losing their preliminary rounds bouts.

O'Neill, from the Paulstown club in Kilkenny, stopped Brazilian Kalani Abreu on the 20 point rule in round three.Kaliani reached the quarter finals at the last World Senior Championships and has represented his country at the Olympics.

Holy Trinity Belfast ace McMonagle followed that up with a 20 point rule round three stoppage of Swiss puncher Xhavit Bajrame.

O'Neill will now meet Czech fighter Sal Beselajan in the last eight, while McMonagles opponent has yet to be confirmed for the quarter finals.

Meanwhile, Lindberg, of the Immaculata club in Belfast, was stopped in round three of his bantamweight clash by Mongolian Alex Enkhbath.

And Azerbaijani Olympian and 2006 European Senior Championships featherweight silver medallist Shahin Imarov beat St Michael's Athy lightweight Donovan 26-18.

Lindberg had to pull out of last weekends National U/19 Championships because of a viral infection, while Donovan just moved up from featherweight to lightweight last month.

Heavyweight, John Sweeney from the Dungloe club in Donegal, meets Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev in the quarter finals tomorrow.(May 17).

The Irish Amateur Boxing Association have a five man team in the Czech Republic.