D-Day for Irish boxers

Paddy Barnes will get Ireland's quest for an Olympic boxing medal underway today when he meets Polish light flyweight Lukasz Maszczyk in a high noon quarter-final showdown at the Worker's Indoor Arena in Beijing.

The clash at 12 noon (Irish time) is the first bout of today's boxing programme in the Chinese capitol.

A win for the Holy Family Belfast man will guarantee at least a bronze medal, which will be Ireland's 10th medal in the boxing ring since Belfast bantamweight John McNally claimed silver at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki.

Irish captain Ken Egan, from the Neilstown club in Dublin, will be in the ring at around 2.15pm (Irish time) this afternoon for a last eight meeting with Brazilian light heavyweight Washington Silva.

Victory for the Dubliner would also guarantee bronze - and could set up an Ireland versus England Olympic 81Kg semi final as Tony Jeffries, who Egan beat in last June's EU final in Poland, faces Hungary's Imre Szello on the other side of the draw.

Meanwhile, Athenry sprinter Paul Hession will be in action in the semi-finals of the men's 200m event at 2.25pm Irish time after winning two heats yesterday.

Middleweight boxer Darren Sutherland, of the St Saviours club in Dublin, will be in quarter-final action tomorrow versus Alfonso Blanco from Venezuela.

Looking ahead to what will be a crucial 48 hours for Irish amateur boxing, IABA High Performance director Gary Keegan said that they were well prepared for the challenges ahead.

"Paddy, Ken and Darren are relaxed and in great spirits and they can't wait to get in the ring," he said.

"The important thing for the lads is that they keep a tight defence and don't drop points to loose shots.

"The lads have worked extremely hard to get where they are and if they can maintain a tight defence and maintain the level of performances they have produced to get to this stage then they will be right in there with a shout.

"We have our homework done and have studied enough of Paddy's opponent to know that he switches from southpaw to orthodox and also leaves his hands down so that could present opportunities for Paddy.

"Silva is a strong experienced boxer and Ken knows he cannot afford to take anything for granted in there with so much at stake.

"It is a very exciting time for Irish amateur boxing and we will all have butterflies in our stomachs today. The squad would like to thank everyone for the well wishes they have been receiving since they arrived in Beijing."

The boxing event at the 29th Olympiad will conclude with five finals next Saturday and six finals on Sunday.