BOXING Ireland's Boxers Claim Two Gold Medals at the Heydar Aliyev Cup

06 May 2009


Ireland's boxers registered another first today after Joe Ward and Michael Reilly claimed two gold medals at the ten nation Heydar Aliyev Cup in Baku, Azerbaijain.

Irish captain Ward, from the Moate club in West Meath, beat Georgian light middleweight Sekhnias Nikoloz 4-0 and Reilly, of the Drimnagh club in Dublin, edged out Turkish light welter Burhan Aksay 7-6.

The win was all the sweeter for Ward as he was beaten in last years Heydar Aliyev Cup final by Rakhimov Ulubek of Uzbekistan.

Ward, Reilly and Chris Mullaly, who will be taking home bronze from Baku, have now staked strong claims for inclusion on the Irish side for the AIBA World Junior Championships in Armenia later this month.

The World Juniors, which glove off in Yerevan on May 23, has attracted a record breaking 283 boxers from 47 nations.

Irish coach Jim Moore, who is expected to announce his squad for Armenia tomorrow, said that they were delighted with the Baku wins.

"This is another first for Irish amateur boxing as the most we have ever won at this level was silver, thanks to Joe Wards performance last year, " said Moore.

"Joe and Michael have boxed magnificently here this week and they totally deserve their victories. Two gold medals augur well for the World Championships as some of the top underage boxers in Europe were out here."

Azerbaijan, Russia and Ireland, in that order, finished in the top three positions in the medals won table. The Irish team will arrive home via Dublin Airport at 1.30pm on Tuesday.

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Heydar Aliyev Cup Baku, Azerbaijan May 5th

May 5th Finals

  • 66Kg: Michael Reilly (Drimnagh) beat Burhan Aksay (Turkey) 7-6
  • 70Kg: Joe Ward cpt (Moate) beat Sekhnias Nikoloz (Georgia) 4-0


May 4th (Semi Finals) Results

  • 64Kg: Chris Mullaly (Ryston) lost to Dmitriy Rubtsov (Russia) 3-5
  • 66Kg: Michael Reilly (Drimnagh) beat Singh Vishal (India) 4-1
  • 70Kg: Joe Ward cpt (Moate) beat Askin Burak (Turkey) 11-2


May 3rd (Quarter Finals) Results

  • 57Kg: Christy Joyce (St Michael's Athy) lost to Novruzali Aliev (Azerbaijan) 8-10
  • 52Kg: Roy O'Carroll (Glen) lost to Uyar Remzi (Turkey) 3-11
  • 63Kg: Chris Mullaly (Ryston) beat Samin Ajamov (Azerbaijan) 11-3
  • 66Kg: Mike Riely (Drimnagh) beat Aliyev Raven (Azerbaijan) 8-5
  • 70Kg: Joe Ward cpt (Moate) beat Sinan Shabiyev (Azerbaijan) 21-3
  • 75Kg: Eddie Byrne (Wexford CBS) lost to Islamjon Satimov (Uzbekistan) 6-8


May 2nd (Last 16) Results

  • 54Kg: Ryan McKeown (Sacred Heart Newry) lost to Faud Huseynov (Azerbaijan) 4-12
  • 50Kg: Daniel Fullerton (Keady) lost to Hajiyan Yingan (Azerbaijan) 1-7
  • 63Kg: Chris Mullaly (Ryston) beat Safrov Ravil (Azerbaijan) 8-1



May 1st (Last 16) Results

  • 48Kg: James Tennyson (Immaculata) lost to Rayu Saidi (Azerbaijan ) 4-13
  • 52Kg: Roy O'Carroll (Glen) beat Alin Abbasov (Azerbaijan) 14-12
  • 60Kg: Rohan Date (Saviours/Crystal) lost to Magomed Masayev (Russia ) 4-10


Team Leader: Tony Mahony
Coaches: Jim Moore & Eddie Bolger
Physio: Tara Timlin