THE NEWS from the National Stadium sales office at noon yesterday was more reminiscent of halcyon days on the South Circular, Road with 80 per cent of the seats booked for tonights' finals of the Maxol sponsored national senior championships.
The "house full" sign, that has not been required in 14 years, seems certain to go up at some stage this evening as six reigning champions defend their titles. But then, it is Olympic year and Atlanta is very much the objective.
All 12 champions this evening will have automatic access to next month's European championships' and the gate way to the Olympics. Quarter finalists in Denmark will be selected for Atlanta.
The men who will be hoping to retain titles are, light fly, Jim Prior (Darndale), fly, Damien Kelly (Holy Trinity, Belfast), feather, Adrian Patterson (St Patrick's Newry), light middle, Declan Higgins (Fermoy), middle, Brian Magee (Holy Trinity, Belfast) and light heavy Stephen Kirk (Cairn Lodge).
Another champion, super heavy, weight Paul Douglas from Belfast, has shed weight for a bid at heavy against Cathal, O'Grady of Dublin's St Saviour's.
At almost 5 feet 11 inches Patterson, a 20 years old finance student at the University of Coleraine, is very tall for a feather weight. A tormenting southpaw, his defence is difficult to break down as Darren Hyland discovered to his cost in the semi final when he suffered a 21-7 defeat.
Prior, like Kelly, has not boxed so far in these tests and the Darndale youngster should get it tough against Colin Moffatt of Belfast's Holy Trinity.
Oliver Duddy, a 10-8 winner over bantam champion Willie Valentine, mainly because of his ability to score well with left hooks, can now go all the way against Damien McKenna of Drogheda.
