Moore makes perfect start

Team captain Jim Moore gave Ireland the perfect start yesterday at the World Amateur Championships in Belfast.

Welterweight Moore, from Arklow, progressed to the second round after a 17-9 victory over Latvian Aleksands Sotniks in one of two rings set up at Belfast's £100 million (Stg) Odyssey Arena for the prestigious event.

Moore, whose father Jim snr is Ireland's head coach, produced his best boxing in the last round to make sure of victory in a mainly scrappy encounter and is aiming to go all the way.

"I'm here to get gold - that's my target," he said. "There's no point coming here, thinking you're just going to make up the numbers," said Moore.

"As a team we have worked very hard and there's a great team spirit. Obviously these championships are very special to the Irish lads because they're in Belfast and we want to get among the medals.

"It's going to be tough because there are so many top class boxers in the championships, but we'll see."

Sligo's Alan Reynolds continued the early Irish success with a third round stoppage of Lithuania's Vitalijus Subacius.

Irish senior light-heavyweight champion Reynolds was always in control.