Super heavyweight Cathal McMonagle has received a walkover after Alex Vedernikov had to withdraw from tonight's final at the National Senior Championships because of a family illness.
Donegal-born McMonagle, who boxes out the Holy Trinity club in Belfast, had been due to meet Vedernikov from the Neilstown club in Dublin at the National Stadium in Dublin tonight.
Meanwhile, middleweight Darren O'Neill has admitted that he wasn't at his best last night - despite beating Edward Healy 15-3 in the semi-finals.
O'Neill, from the Paulstown club in Dublin, will meet defending champion Darren Sutherland in tonight's eagerly awaited middleweight decider.
Both boxers looked destined to meet in last year’s senior final, but O'Neill had to withdraw because of a hand injury.
Sutherland, of the St Saviours Olympic Boxing Academy (OBA) in Dublin, went on to claim the 75kg title but lost out within one fight of Olympic qualification against Alfonso Blanco from Venezuala in the last 16 of the World Championships and Olympic qualifiers in Chicago last October.
O'Neill said: ‘I wasn't at my best last night but I haven't had a serious contest in a few months. But I will definitely be up for tonight's final and may the best man win.’
The Senior Championships have a double significance this year as boxers retaining or winning titles will be part of the Irish team taking part in the second last Olympic qualifiers for European boxers in Pescara, Italy in February/March.
The final Olympic qualifier for European boxers will take place in Athens, Greece in April.
Light flyweight Paddy Barnes has already qualified for the 2008 Olympics and will defend his Irish 48kg title against his great rival Jimmy Moore tonight.
Barnes beat Moore in last year's final 12 months after he was beaten by the Limerick man in the 2006 decider.
The opening ceremony for the 2008 National Senior Championships will begin at 7.30pm at the National Stadium tonight.
