DISTASTEFUL scenes marred last night's opening session of the Maxol National Junior boxing championships at the National Stadium after Paul Stephens of CIE was disqualified.
A chair was flung at the ropes apparently aimed at Connacht referee Paddy McSweeney who sent Stephens back to his corner just before the end of the second round.
The trouble started when a second in Stephens's corner refused to remove himself from the ringside when ordered to do so by referee McSweeney. "I was verbally abused by the second," said McSweeney "and I told him to leave the ring side. He refused to do so and I made my decision."
Non officials then jumped into the ring to restrain Stephens.
Earlier, Charlie Nash, a son of the former Stadium hero, was a clear winner over Loughglynn fighter Oisin Kelly, whose brother Nathy also lost, this time to James Phillips of Athy.
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