Italy withdraw from international boxing bout

The Ireland versus Italy international at the Donegal Celtic Club in Belfast was abandoned last night after Italy withdrew their team with seven bouts remaining.

It is understood that Italy, who were 4-1 down, were unhappy with the judging.

Ireland, who beat the Italians 7-5 at the National Stadium in Dublin on Friday, had won four of the first five bouts in Belfast when Italy withdrew.

The Italians withdrawal came just after David Oliver Joyce, a two-time European Union champion, produced a superb performance to beat current world lightweight champion and AIBA world boxer of the year Domenico Valentino 8-4.

This was the second time in the space of 48 hours that Valentino was beaten by a St Michael's Athy clubman. Valentino had finished on the wrong side of an 11-8 decision to an equally impressive performance from Eric Donovan at the National Stadium on Friday.

Paddy Barnes, a bronze medal winner at the Beijing Olympics and officially ranked ninth in the world, Michael Conlon, James Friars and Joyce all won their bouts on Sunday night, leaving Ireland just two victories short of winning the double header on aggregate.

Barnes, who moved up from light flyweight for the international in his home town, was in top form, a 17-2 win over Alex Ferramosca nudging Ireland into a 2-0 lead on the night.

Ireland v Italy Donegal Celtic Club Club, Belfast, 14 March:

51kg: Michael Conlon (Ireland) beat Vincenzo Picardi (Italy) 12-7
51kg: Paddy Barnes (Ireland) beat Alex Ferramosca (Italy) 17-2
54kg: Derek Thorpe (Ireland) lost to Vittorio Parrinello (Italy) 3-15
57kg: James Fryers (Ireland) beat Alessio Di Sevino (Italy) 5-4
60kg: David Oliver Joyce (Ireland) beat Domenico Valentino (Italy) 8-4
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
64kg: Stephen Donnolly (Ireland) Vincenzo Manggiacapre (Italy)
64kg: Patrick Gallagher (Ireland) Davide Cenciarelli (Italy)
69kg: William McLaughlin (Ireland) Diego Di Luisa (Italy)
75kg: Jason Quigley (Ireland) Luca Podda (Italy)
81kg: Eamon O'Kane (Ireland) Simone Fiori (Italy)
91kg: John Sweeney (Ireland) Clemente Russo (Italy)
91+kg: Cathal McMonagle (Ireland) Roberto Cammerelle (Italy)

Ireland v Italy National Stadium, Dublin, 12 March:

51g: Gary Molloy (Ireland) lost to Vincenzo Picardi (Italy) 2-7
51kg: Jimmy Moore (Ireland) lost to Alex Ferramosca (Italy) 7-13
54kg: John Joe Nevin (Ireland) beat Vittorio Parrinello (Italy) 11-3
57kg: Tyrone McCullagh (Ireland) beat Alessio Di Sevino (Italy) 10-6
60kg: Eric Donovan (Ireland) beat Domenico Valentino (Italy) 11-8
64kg: Ray Moylette (Ireland) beat Vincenzo Manggiacapre (Italy) 10-0
64kg: Philip Sutcliffe (Ireland) lost to Davide Cenciarelli (Italy) 14-16
69kg; John Joe Joyce (Ireland) beat Diego Di Luisa (Italy) 15-5
75kg: Darren O'Neill (Ireland) beat Luca Podda (Italy) 11-1
81kg: Gezim Disha (Ireland) lost to Simone Fiori (Italy) 3-10
91kg: Con Sheehan (Ireland) beat Simone Fiori (Italy)4-2
91+kg: David Joyce (Ireland) lost to Simone Fiori (Italy) 4-15

Ireland win 7-5.

Ireland squad Dublin:

51kk: Jimmy Moore (St Francis)
51kg: Gary Molloy (Moate)
54kg: John Joe Nevin (Cavan)
57kg: Tyrone McCullagh (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: David Joyce (Moate)

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: Eamon O'Kane (Immaculata)
91kg: John Sweeney (Dungloe)
91+kg: Cathal McMonagle (Holy Trinity)