BOXING Nevin Prepares for Semi-Final at AIBA World Championships

Irish bantamweight John Joe Nevin had a light training session this afternoon ahead of tomorrows AIBA World Senior Championships semi final with Eduard Abzalimov of Russia at the Mediolanum Forum in Milan.

Both boxers are no strangers to each other as they met in training and sparring camp last year in Vladivostok when Ireland trained and sparred with Russia before the Beijing Olympics.

Nevin, who boxes out of Cavan BC, claimed at least a bronze medal following Wednesdays 7-5 win over Yu Gu of China.

If the 20 year old Irish senior champion emerges victorious tomorrow then he'll become the first Irishman to reach a World Senior Championships final - and the first to win at least silver at this level.

Nevin will box out of the blue corner tomorrow. He has fought out of the blue corner in his 4 wins at these Championships so far, scoring 50 points and conceding 16.

Eduard Abzalimov won a European Junior Championships title eight years ago. Mullingar born Nevin won European Union silver in Odense, Denmark this year.

Last year Nevin reached the last 16 of the Beijing Olympics where he was beaten by eventual Olympic champion Enkhbatyn Badar -Uugan of Mongolia.

Alcaron Yankiel Leon of Cuba and Detelin Dalakliev of Bulgaria meet in Saturdays corresponding 54Kg semi final.