Classy Johnson star of the show
Following withdrawals in advance of the tournament, there was further drama last night when it emerged that the team from Kosovo would not be taking part in the competition.
It emerged at yesterday's weigh-in that their international record books were not in order in accordance with AIBA and EABA rules so the team had to be withdrawn.
"Kosova is not affiliated to the European or world bodies and that caused the problem," Don Stewart the IABA's Administrative Director pointed out.
"They applied for a place in the tournament and all the information provided to us by fax was in order. We took it on face value but then, this morning at the weigh-in, it was discovered that their cards were not in order."
Their absence from the competition left Ireland's Michael Kelly without an opponent but fans were rewarded for their attendance.
During the evening the IABA's national secretary, Corkman Sean Crowley who lives in Arklow, announced that they would be given free tickets for tonight's semi-final session.
And they were treated to some thrilling competition, particularly in the two light welterweight contests decided.
The first produced a competitor who could emerge as the star of the tournament American, Antonia Johnson, a 19-year-old from New Jersey.
Johnson, ranked No. 2 in the US at the moment, missed out on this year's world championships with a broken hand and last night he demonstrated his talents with a classy performance against a teak tough Scot, James Cusick from Dunfermline.
The young American gave an exhibition of all the skills from basics to spectacular to take control of the contest. The 25-year-old Scot, a member of the Royal Marines absorbed everything that was thrown his way.
Johnson, scoring with clean, well placed punches, went 7-2 clear at the end of the first round, had nine points to spare at the end of he second and, from there on, gave an exhibition of the finer points of boxing, jabbing, hooking and using every inch of the ring to deny the wholehearted Scot, a former ABA junior champion, any opportunity to get back into the fight.
And Roy Sheahan booked his place against Johnson in tomorrow night's semi-final by virtue of a very impressive 14-7 victory over Frenchman, Lakhlifi Rachid.
The young Athy lad, who has won everything available to him apart from the senior title that may not elude him for much longer, applied the pressure from the outset.
Jabbing and hooking with a lethal left hand, he withstood the early attacks from the Frenchman to edge into a 2-0 lead.
Then, a spectacular second round, in which he scored with some accurate and well punches that punctuated some delightful combinations, saw him go 8-0 clear and by the time the Frenchman came to grips with the situation the contest was way out of reach.
Eamonn O'Kane (St. Canice's, Derry) sent the fans home happy, following a clear-cut 25-7 over a tough Cypriot, Kokkinos Savvas at Middleweight.
Earlier in the night, Frenchman, Guillaume Salingue, cleverly and decisively outpointed Garreth Dunne from Neilstown in the opening contest of the competition.
The 19-year-old Dubliner elected to take the fight to Salingue, who made the top eight at the world championships in Belfast. But, the strength of the Frenchman eventually wore him down and he went under 37-15 to a man who can make a big impression on the lightweight division.
Ireland will have five boxers in action in tonight's semi-finals. At light flyweight, Conor Ahern meets Ian McCabe (Scotland) while lightweight champion, Andrew Murray meets another Scot, Mitch Prince.
James Moore will be in action against Frenchman, Bettaibi Karin while Henry Coyle meets Swede, Benjamin Kalinovic at welterweight. Marvin Lee meets Canadian light heavyweight Trevor Stewardson while Kenneth Egan's Kosovan opponent will be absent.
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