World bronze medallist Michael O’Reilly and former European champion Ray Moylette both recorded wins on the second night of National Elite Championship semi-final action at the National Stadium on Saturday.
The 2016 national championships are taking place early to aid with selection decisions in the build-up to next year’s Olympic qualifiers, with 2015 title holders O’Reilly, Seán McComb, Brendan Irvine and Myles Casey all emerging victorious on Saturday night – although the latter pair have moved up in weight.
Portlaoise fighter O’Reilly recorded a unanimous decision semi-final win over Athy’s decorated underage champion John Joyce, eventually easing to victory after a competitive opening round.
"I felt great, I had tactics going into the fight and it all worked out for me. I was dropping the hands, feinting, making him miss" - Michael O'Reilly
Southpaw Joyce took the fight to O’Reilly, the defending champion, but the challenger seemed to tire as he began to feel the toll of a busy recent schedule.
Joyce had four fights at the European Youth Championships in Poland last week where he claimed bronze before making his senior debut on Friday night with a win over Camlough’s Fearghus Quinn in his opener.
O’Reilly gradually found his groove and Joyce was handed a bloody nose for his troubles in the final round.
“I felt great, I had tactics going into the fight and it all worked out for me,” said O’Reilly afterwards. “I was dropping the hands, feinting, making him miss,” he added.
After receiving a bye to the semi-finals of the national championships, O’Reilly booked his 75kg final place next Friday against St Monica’s Connor Wallace, who defeated Eddie Byrne of Na Fianna.
Meanwhile, Moylette will head into a 64kg light-welterweight final rematch next weekend with Dean Walsh, nephew of former Ireland head coach Billy.
Westport native Moylette took a split-decision win over Wayne Kelly of Athlone in a close contest.
“I was happy overall,” said Moylette. “There’s nothing going to be given to you easy in an Elite semi-final.
“I got the win at the end of the day and it was a close encounter. It wasn’t physically demanding, but mentally challenging. It was like a game of chess in there... I felt I did enough in every round,” added Moylette.
Earlier in the night, reigning light-flyweight (49kg) champion Brendan Irvine moved up to flyweight (52kg) for the first time as he aims for Olympic qualification.
Belfast native Irvine defeated another St Michael’s Athy fighter, Willie Donohue, who launched regular flurries of attacks from the opening bell, bringing pressure on Irvine but the latter remained composed and was more precise and selective with his punches.
Joyce was another European Youth medallist making his senior debut and his work-rate dropped slightly after a tiring few weeks.
Irvine fights fellow Belfast native TJ Waite in next weekend’s 52kg final and the former acknowledged that it is likely to be an emotional night for his opponent.
Waite’s mother passed away last Friday but the young boxer opted to fight that evening to respect her wishes that he do so, recording a split-decision win over another Belfast native, Jason McKay.
“We’d be close enough and it’s terrible what happened to his mum,” said Irvine. “Fights are never friendly, but it’s a job and we just have to get on with it.”
Another Belfast native, defending 60kg lightweight champion Seán McComb, claimed his fourth win against old rival George Bates of Dublin in another close bout.
“That’s four times we’ve fought in the last three years and we know each other inside-out,” said McComb, who moves on to a final clash with old foe David Oliver Joyce.
Meanwhile Myles Casey – brother of former European pro champion Willie – took a unanimous points win over Ballagh’s Jason Kirwan at bantamweight (56kg).
Flyweight champion Casey was another moving up in weight for the first time and looked comfortable throughout his win.
Later in the night, Emerald’s John Paul Delaney claimed a unanimous points win over Seán Allen of Arklow in their light-heavyweight (81kg) clash, while Bernie O’Reilly of Portlaoise will meet Darren O’Neill in the 91kg final after a split-decision win over Kiril Afanasev of Smithfield.
In the night’s final bout, Thomas Carty of Glasnevin dropped Constantin Popivicu of Johnstown with a right hand before taking a split win and the former will clash with Clonmel’s Dean Gardiner in the 91kg super-heavyweight final.
At welterweight, London 2012 Olympian Adam Nolan will fight Martin Stokes in the 69kg decider after the latter’s win over Belfast’s Caoimhín Hynes.
Stokes is the first boxer from Drogheda’s Holy Family club to reach an Irish senior final since 2001.
The National Stadium hosts finals night next Friday.
