Olympic Boxing: Is Ireland Beijing’s Sleeping Giant?
Thursday, August 21st, 2008
Irish team captain Kenny Egan, final workout in Ireland.
Ireland sent 54 competitor’s to the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing. So far, none have taken a medal of any sort…so far. The boxing team is a different story. Ireland sent 5 boxers to Beijing and 3 of them have clinched the bronze and are still strong in the race for gold. Light flyweight Patrick ‘Paddy’ Barnes, middleweight Darren Sutherland, and light heavyweight Kenny Egan are all advancing to the semi-finals.
Patrick ‘Paddy’ Barnes pulled a bye in the first round, he beat Ecuador’s Jose Luis Meza (14-8), Poland’s Lukasz Maszczyk (11-5), and will meet China’s Shiming Zou tomorrow night (Friday the 22nd) for the silver. If he beats Zou he’ll be in the finals this Sunday the 24th at 1:30 pm. Paddy lost to Shiming Zou (22-8) at the 2007 World Amateur Championships in Chicago.
Darren Sutherland also pulled a bye in the first round. He stopped Algeria’s Nabil Kassel via RSC (Referee Stops Conest), Venezuela’s Alfonso Blanco (11-1), and will meet Britain’s James DeGale tomorrow night (Friday the 22nd) at 3 pm. If he gets by DeGale, he will have clinched the silver and will be in the final match this Saturday the 23rd at 8:45 pm. Sutherland and Degal have met 5 times in the ring. DeGale said it’s 4 to 1 but not sure who won 4. Last time they met DeGale beat Sutherland 23-22. I’ve seen Sutherland fight and he cares not for points. He cares about knockouts.
Ireland’s team captain Kenny Egan has fought every bout and has pulled no bye’s in Beijing. His first win was over the Virgin Islands Julias Jackson (22-2) then it was Turkey’s Bahram Muzaffer (10-2), and Brazil’s Washington Silva (8-0). Egan will meet Britain’s Tony Jeffries this Friday night the 22nd at 9 pm. If Egan makes it past Jeffries he will have the silver and fight for the gold this Sunday the 24th at 3:50 pm.
Considering Ireland’s dilemma at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, alot is riding on their boxing team. Even if all three lose in the semi-finals, Ireland will be taking home three medals guaranteed. Lets hope they pull it off…good luck to Team Ireland! Ireland JIA YOU!
Stumble it!