A boxer has asked the High Court to order a ‘box off’ to determine who should represent Ireland at next week's European Youth Championships in the welterweight division.
Portlaoise boxer Michael O Reilly, 18, claims he was unfairly dropped from the Irish Youth team over a disciplinary matter.
He wants a chance to fight the selected candidate before Saturday's ratification process is completed by the Irish Amateur Boxing Association.
Mr O Reilly claims the IABA did not follow fair procedures in taking disciplinary action against him.
He says his €5,000 a year grant from the Sports Council has been jeopardised by the decision along with his hopes to compete in the Olympic Games.
At the opening of the case today the High Court was told that Mr O'Reilly has won several national and international titles and has beaten all the top boxers of his age in the world.
He was taking part in an IABA training camp earlier this month and had been scheduled to take part in a box off to decide who should represent Ireland at welterweight.
He had already beaten his prospective opponent, Christy Joyce, by nine points earlier this year.
However after an incident in which his car was damaged when he allowed another young boxer to drive it in a car park, he was de-selected and asked to leave the training camp.
Letters to Mr O Reilly's club referred to the incident with the car and the fact that he left the training camp without permission to get his car repaired.
However Mr O’Reilly denies he left without permission and claims he informed his coach.
He claims he was not made aware of any disciplinary hearing and was not given a chance to be represented. He was informed of the decision when a letter to his club was read out to him.
The IABA denies the decision followed a formal disciplinary process. It has also rejected calls for a box off before Saturday's ratification by the Boxing Council as it is too close to a tournament.
However Mr O Reilly's lawyers said the box off consists of three, three-minute rounds and that these are often held close to competition.
Amateur boxers also frequently compete a number of days in a row, they said.
The IABA denies the claims and the case continues tomorrow.
