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Eugene McKeever claims victory at European Boxing Championships

Eugene McKeever beat Polish opponent Matesuz Daniel Urban on split decision
Eugene McKeever beat Polish opponent Matesuz Daniel Urban on split decision

Eugene McKeever claimed victory in the first preliminary round at the European Boxing Championships in Belgrade.

The light middleweight beat Poland's Matesuz Daniel Urban on split decision, with the judges scoring the bout 29:28; 28:29; 28:29; 28:29; 29:28 in favour of McKeever.

Victory for the Holy Family Drogheda fighter was Ireland's second at the tournament, after Adam Hession won his first preliminary round via unanimous decision victory against Giorgia Kapanadze of Georgia.

McKeever and Hession will both be back in the ring on Sunday, against Azerbaijan's Ailyev Sharkan and Belgium's Vasile Usturoi respectively.

Paris Olympian Dean Clancy will make his debut at the tournament against Abdul Fawaz Aborode. Sunday's action will get underway at 2pm Irish time.

Shannon Sweeney opens her campaign on Monday against Russia's Geliusa Galieva, the same day as Niamh Fay will begin her championships also against Russian opposition, in the form of Karina Tazabekova. Michaela Walsh meets France’s Sthelyne Grosy in her opening bout, also on Monday.

Tokyo gold medalist Kellie Harrington will face Italy's Rebecca Nicoli or Turkey's Ozer Gizem on Tuesday after receiving a bye, while Roscommon sisters Lisa and Aoife O'Rourke will be in action on the same day.

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