Lee relishing double crack at Cubans

THE 11 newly-crowned national senior boxing champions compete at the Four Nations Championships in Liverpool this week.

Olympian Andy Lee, who missed last year’s event through injury, aims to recapture the middleweight title he won two seasons ago in Cardiff.

“That’s the next step,” he agreed after winning his third national senior title on Friday night. “I would hope to win there and get my place on the Four Nations team to box Cuba in Liverpool a week later and then, a week after that, we have the Cubans in Dublin.”

Lee, who won a silver medals in the World Junior Championships in Cuba, is relishing the chance to meet fighters from Cuba in Ireland.

“We always have to travel to box those guys and I am really looking forward to meeting them on home ground this time around,” said Lee.

“No matter how you look at it they are the best in the world so it is great for the fans, too, to be able to see them in action.”

It will be a big week for the president of the IABA, Dominic O’Rourke, with three members of his club in action in the Liverpool event, which commences on Thursday.

David Oliver Joyce, at bantamweight, featherweight Eric Donovan and David Joyce at light welterweight completed a hat-trick of victories for the St. Michael’s club from Athy on Friday night.

They now hope to repeat that success cross-channel.

Joyce, who outpointed a talented light welterweight, Keith Boyle, from the St. Saviours Olympic Boxing Academy, at the Stadium took the Best Boxer Award.

Lee, Kenneth Egan at light heavyweight, Stephen Ormond at lightweight and Conor Ahern, who is the biggest punching light flyweight to emerge in recent times, will all be eyeing gold medals this week.

“We had did well last year and in Killarney three years ago but Cardiff two years ago was our biggest year and I would hope we can at least equal that medal haul,” said Dominic O’Rourke.

“We have some established stars and some exciting youngsters in the line-up and I think some of those might shine as well.”

Irish team for Liverpool: Light Flyweight, Conor Ahern (Baldoyle); Flyweight, Carl Frampton (Midland White City, Belfast); Bantamweight, David Oliver Joyce (St. Michael’s, Athy); Featherweight, Eric Donovan (St. Michael’s, Athy); Lightweight, Stephen Ormond (St. Matthews, Dublin); Light Welter, David Joyce (St. Michael’s, Athy); Welterweight, Karl Brabazon (St. Saviours OBA); Middleweight, Andy Lee (St. Francis, Limerick); Light Heavyweight, Kenneth Egan (Neilstown, Dublin); Heavyweight, Ian Tims (St. Matthews, Dublin); Super Heavyweight, Cathal McMonagle (Holy Trinity, Belfast).