Champion Sheahan forced to withdraw from Open

Reigning Irish welterweight champion Roy Sheahan has withdrawn from next weekend's Open Senior Competition because of a recurrence of a hand injury.

The Irish Amateur Boxing Association are using the Open Competition, which begins next Friday night, as part of their selection process for Novembers European Senior Championships in Liverpool.

Sheahan broke his left hand in sparring on the eve of last February's Olympics qualifiers in Pescara, Italy.