BOXING:THE 2011 Elite Championships at the National Stadium in Dublin are once again showing total disregard for the reputations of some of the world's top amateur boxers.
Olympic Youth champion Ryan Burnett, Paddy Gallagher, who won gold for Northern Ireland at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, World senior quarter-finalist Willie McLaughlin and 2008 AIBA World Youth champion Ray Moylette, the defending light-welter champion, all exited on the opening weekend.
Three-times senior champion and 2007 European Union gold-medallist Roy Sheehan is also out after dropping 2-1 verdict to Jamie Dowling in the welterweight class.
Burnett, who also claimed a silver medal at the 2010 AIBA World Youths, was edged out 4-3 on his Elite Senior debut by his fellow Belfast flyweight Michael Conlon at the home of Irish boxing.
And the 64kg title is now vacant after Moylette (St Anne’s, Westport), was on the wrong end of a 5-3 decision to Belfast’s James McDonagh on Saturday afternoon.
Beijing Olympian John Joe Joyce, the defending welterweight champion, almost joined the list of causalities, but claimed a 4-1 double countback win over Crumlin’s Shane Murtagh when it went back to the five judges after a 4-4 draw and an 11-11 tie after the first countback.
Meanwhile, Sligo’s Thomas Roohan will face Ken Egan – who is aiming for an unprecedented 11th title in a row – in next Friday’s light-heavyweight semi-final after beating Brian Fitzpatrick.
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