Heavier divisions the key to beating Swedes

IT IS 15 years since a Swedish team boxed at the National Stadium, a gap which will be bridged tonight when a 11 bout bill will be staged as the opening home international of the season.

Although a number of better known Irish names are missing - Francie Barrett and Damaen Kelly spring to mind - there is a certain solidity in the selection and some stirring contests are in prospect.

There will be repeats in a number of weights because of the unavailability of a number of boxers from both countries. There will, therefore, be two bouts at light welterweight, two at welterweight and two at heavyweight.

Traditionally, Ireland has been strongest at the lower weights and this suggests that a win for Ireland will depend on good performances in the heavier divisions.

In this respect, Ireland's two light welterweights will carry the brunt of the battle and they may have to produce performances of the highest calibre. The two are Mark Dillon, from Dublin, and John Morrissey, from Cork.

Dillon, who fought at international level before, faces the Swedish junior champion from 1995 who is still only 18. Here Dillon, who is 21, may have the advantage.

Morrissey has a point to prove in his bout against Tonton Semakala. The latter is the reigning Swedish champion while Morrissey is the Irish runner up, having been beaten by Francie Barrett in the nationals last spring.

The current Irish welterweight champion, Neill Gough, from Waterford, meets his Swedish counterpart, Jimmie Antman. Again a well balanced contest is in prospect.

In the second welterweight bout, Sean Barrett, from Cork, beaten by Gough in the national decider last spring, meets Ali Khattab, who was also the runnerup in the Swedish finals, a fact which indicates another close contest.

Much interest will focus on Cathal O'Grady, regarded as one of Ireland's brightest prospects. He meets the runner up in the Swedish championships.

O'Grady is the Irish national champion, the European junior champion and was a contestant at the Atlanta Olympics, a pedigree which will make him a hot favourite to end the night on a high note for Ireland.

Among the Swedish boxers who will be known to Irish boxing fans is their featherweight John Larbi. He represented Sweden at the Olympics and holds the Swedish title for the last two years. He also won a bronze medal in the last European championships. Ireland's Terry Carlysle will have his work cut out if he is to score a point for Ireland in this clash.

. Chris Eubank wants a revenge third fight against WBO champion Steve Collins, the only man to beat him as a professional. The Brighton fighter, who came back last month with victory over Argentina's Luis Barrera in Cairo, lost two WBO super middleweight title fights to Collins last year.

Eubank was at ringside at the Nynex Arena, Manchester, on Saturday to see Collins end Nigel Benn's illustrious career in the fifth defence of his title.

"I want to fight Collins again. I am rested, rejuvenated and back to clean up, and I'm sure I will as long as Collins is not kept away from me.

"He cannot fight Roy Jones (IBF champion) for political reasons, WBC champion Robin Reid is still inexperienced and, by his own admission, needs a few more fights before taking on Collins.

"The only other person out there who could make a serious fight is me. If I'd not been fighting every seven weeks I'd have beaten Collins."