IT COULD yet qualify as an entry in the Guinness book of records or, even as the great Irish boxing joke, but it will be something that Neilstown welter-weight Willie Egan will not wish to see highlighted. In the quarter-finals of the Maxol National senior championships at the National Stadium on Saturday the Dubliner became the first boxer to fail to record a single point.

Egan, an international and a silver medallist at the Military Games in Rome this year, was adjudged, by the controversial computer system, to be the great under achiever in the history of the championships.

To score a point a boxer must be simultaneously credited, by the button pushing ringside judges, with a clear shot within a time span of 1.25 seconds.

Evidently Egan failed to do this. His opponent, Sean Barrett from Rylane in Cork did not do a whole lot better for, four of his eight points were the result of two public warnings for Egan

This bizarre situation apart, the two sessions of quarter-final bouts gave promise of some top class semi-final action next Friday. The incentives are huge with all of this year's champions assured of places in the forthcoming European championships in Denmark, the gateway to the Atlanta Olympics.

One reigning champion, Glen McLarnon of Lurgan, had his season ended by the precocious Cork light welter John Morrissey The Sunnyside man shocked McLarnon (13-6) with a performance of jab and move action that delighted the crowd. Crumlin's Glen Stephens was another champion to lose out, beaten by Eugene McEneaney of Dealgan at lightweight.

Fergal Carruth, a younger brother of Olympic gold medal winner Michael, will have Morrissey's special talents to contend with in Friday's semi-finals.

Welter Neil Gough of St Paul's, Waterford, light heavy Stephen Kirk of Cairn Lodge and Declan Higgins of Fermoy were among the best of the holders to maintain their interest.