Egan hit by flu while Taylor advances

Ten-time Irish senior champion Ken Egan has been withdrawn from the Ireland squad to face Italy this Friday evening after picking up the flu.

The 2008 Olympic silver medalist was due to meet Italian light heavyweight Simona Fiori, but is now out of the two match international and has been replaced by Disha Gezim of the St Matthews club in Dublin.

Ireland face the Italians at the National Stadium in Dublin on Friday 12 March and at the Donegal Celtic Club, Belfast, on Sunday 13 March.

The Italians have named Olympic and double AIBA world super-heavyweight champ Roberto Cammerelle in their squad.

Current world lightweight champion and AIBA world boxer of the year Domenic Valentino and 2007 world heavyweight champ Clemente Russo will also line out for the Azzuri in Dublin and Belfast.

The Italian team are due to arrive in Dublin on Thursday and will train at the National Stadium this afternoon.

Meanwhile, world and European lightweight champion Katie Taylor and her Irish team-mate Sinead Kavanagh advanced to the quarter-finals of the Usti nad Labem Grand Prix with preliminary round wins in the Czech Republic on Wednesday.

Taylor beat Kosovare Buzuku of Sweden 8-0 and Drimnagh middleweight Kavanagh beat Martina Jindrova of the Czech Republic 9-7 in Usi nad Labem.

Taylor of Bray BC will meet ex-Italian European featherweight champion Marzia Davide on Thursday and Kavanagh faces Bulgarian Desisvala Lazarova.

Usti nad Labem Gran Prix Czech Republic 10 March:

Preliminaries:
60kg: Katie Taylor (Ireland) beat Kosovare Buzuku (Sweden) 8-0
75kg: Sinsead Kavanagh (Ireland) beat Martina Jindrova (Czech Republic) 9-7

Quarter-finals, 11 March:
60Kg: Katie Taylor (Ireland) v Marzia Davide (Italy)
75Kg: Sinead Kavanagh (Ireland) v Desisvala Lazarova (Bulgaria)

Ireland v Italy, 12 - 14 March 2010:

Ireland squad - Dublin:
51kg: Gary Molloy (Moate)
51kg: Jimmy Moore (St Francis)
51kg: Paddy Barnes (Holy Family)
54kg: John Joe Nevin (Cavan)
57kg: Tyrone McCullough (Illies GG)
60kg: Eric Donovan (St Michael's Athy)
64kg: Ray Moylette (St Anne's)
64kg: Phil Sutcliffe (Crumlin)
69kg: John Joe Joyce (St Michael's Athy)
75kg: Darren O'Neill (Paulstown)
81kg: Disha Gezim (St Matthews)
91kg: Con Sheehan (Clonmel)
91+kg: Ireland


Ireland squad - Belfast:
51kg: Paddy Barnes (Holy Family)
51kg: Michael Conlon (St John's Bosco)
54kg: Derek Thorpe (St Aidens)
57kg: James Fryers (Immaculata)
60kg: David Oliver Joyce (St Michael's Athy)
64kg: Stephen Donnolly (All Saints)
64kg: Patrick Gallagher (Gleann)
69kg: William McLaughlin (Illies GG)
75kg: Jason Quigley (Finn Valley)
81kg: Denis Hogan (Grangecon)
91kg: John Sweeney (Dungloe)
91+kg: Cathal McMonagle (Holy Trinity)

Italy team:
51kg: Alex Ferramosca & Vincenzo Picardo
54kg: Vittorio Parrinello
57kg: Alessio Di'Sevino
60kg: Domenico Valentino
64kg: Vicenzo Mangiacapra & Davide Cenciarelli
69kg; Diego Di'Luisa
75kg: Luca Podda
81kg: Simona Fiori
91kg: Clemente Russo
91kg+: Roberto Cammerelle