IRISH AMATEUR BOXING ASSOCIATION "Sutherland wins gold in Croatia"
THE Irish Amateur Boxing Association will be bringing home one gold medal from the Zlatko Hrbic Senior Multi Nations tournament in Croatia after middleweight Darren Sutherland finished on top of the podium in Zagreb tonight (March 10th).
Sutherland outclassed Croatian Sanjim Vrgoc winning (31-11) and the fight was stopped on the 20 point rule in the third round.
Commentating on Sutherlands win, the Director of the Irish Amateur Boxing Associations High Performance Unit, Gary Keegan, was full of praise for the St Saviours OBA man.
He said: "It was a great performance by Darren particularly as he was boxing a Croatian on his own turf but the outcome of this fight was never in doubt and Darren was on top all the way through."
"This was Darren's first international outing following his injury problems last year and he passed the test with flying colours and he really was in excellent form this evening.
"He had four hard rounds against the Italian lad in yesterdays semi final but he was very relaxed tonight and he went to work early and he caused his opponent in all sort of problems after the first round."
Meantime, there were reversals for bantamweight Ryan Lindberg, featherweight David Oliver Joyce, and lightweight John Joe Joyce in tonight's finals after all three were beaten in Zagreb.
Lindberg, from the Immacullata club in Belfast lost out 21-34 to Russian Cergey Vodopyanove, and David Oliver Joyce was beaten 27-32 by Mirsad Ahmeti-despite forcing the Croatian-who conceded two points after receiving a public warning-into two standing counts.
John Joe Joyce, also of the St Michael's Athy club, was beaten 16-36 by French puncher Gean Ganis.
Light heavyweight Ken Egan was due to box in today's 81Kg final but was withdrawn after picking up an injury to his left hand in yesterdays semi final victory over German Rene Clause.
Ireland will be bringing home one gold, four silver, and two bronze medals from Croatia and Keegan says that they are very pleased with the performances in Zagreb.
He added: "Our boxers produced some excellent performances over the last few days and it was a very intense tournament as the quarter finals, semi finals and finals were held over three days and there was no let up.
"We came out here to measure the performances of our squad and in that respect we are very pleased especially with the displays of Ryan and David as this was their first time boxing at this level and this experience will stand to them."
"John also boxed exceptionally well and I can't tell you how proud I am of these young men that they can come out here and perform to these standards despite their young age."
The Irish squad will arrive home to Dublin Airport at 9pm tomorrow night (Sunday March 11th).
The Irish squad were under team manager Jim Walsh, Coaches Billy Walsh and Jim Moore, Physio Yvonne Ryan, Referees & Judges (R&J) Sadie Duffy and High Performance Director Gary Keegan in Croatia.
Zlatko Hrbic Senior Multi Nations Finals Results from Croatia (March 10th)
54Kg: Ryan Lindberg (Ireland) lost to Cergey Vodopyanove (Russia) 21-34, 57Kg: David Oliver Joyce (Ireland) lost to Mirsad Ahmeti (Croatia) 27-32, 60Kg: John Joe Joyce (Ireland) lost Gean Ganis (France) 16-36, 75Kg: Darren Sutherland (Ireland) beat Sanjin Vrgoc (Croatia) RSCO3 (31-11)
Irish Squad Competing in Croatia
48Kg: Paddy Barnes (Holy Family), 51Kg: Conor Ahern (Baldoyle), 54Kg: Ryan Lindberg (Immaculata), 57Kg: David Oliver Joyce (St Michael's Athy), 60Kg: John Joe Joyce (St Michael's Athy), 64Kg: Aodh Carlyle (Golden Cobra), 75Kg: Darren Sutherland (St Saviours OBA), 81Kg: Ken Egan (Neilstown), 91Kg: Ian Timms (St Matthews).
For Further Information:
Bernard O'Neill Public Relations Officer Irish Amateur Boxing Association Tel: +353 086 057 9558/+353 085 763 3090 e-mail: bernard.oneill@oceanfree.net www.iaba.ie