The Irish boxing team will bring a two bout advantage to Athlone following a 5-3 victory over Russia at the National Stadium in Dublin last night.
Both Nations will meet again this Sunday night at the Athlone Institute of Technology where Ireland will need to win just four of the eight bouts to emerge victorious.
Featherweight Eric Donovan got last evening off to a positive start, forcing Kirill Glumov into two standing counts before being handed a comprehensive 28-4 verdict.
Lightweight Ross Hickey (60Kg) then doubled Ireland's advantage with a 24-15 victory over Ivan Elizarov but Karl Crawley was beaten by Umit Aleskin.
Aodh Carlyle won his four rounder versus Gennady Rybalko, but the Russians bounced back via Evgeniy Kochurovs victory over Terry O'Neill.
Ian Tims was expected to win his contest with Boris Proklin but was beaten in a cagey affair which saw both boxers receive public warnings.
Heavyweight John Sweeney restored Ireland's lead versus Sairin Smailov, and Cathal McMonagle ensured that Ireland will take a 5-3 lead to Athlone after defeating Andrey Kudlay.
The middleweight clash between Eamon O'Kane and Vasily Pugachev was cancelled following an arm injury to Pugachev.
The Russian Ambassador to Ireland, his Excellency Vladimir Rakhmanin attended the international along with staff from the Russian Embassy.
