Local boxers ignite Elite Championship campaigns
By Sean Heffernan
A NUMBER of local boxers will be in action in tonight’s quarter finals of the National Men’s Elite Championships at the National Stadium.
One of the highlights on the bill will be the clash of St Mary’s man Adam Courtney and Hyland Boxing Academy’s Evan Metcalfe at 56kg.
Both fighters have previously met in the semi-finals of the Elites, with Metcalfe prevailing on that occasion.
Courtney is only back from some time out with a shoulder injury, but St Mary’s Head Coach Noel Burke believes he has the potential to make it through this test.
Likewise Metcalfe’s coach Paul Hyland is confident his former Crumlin lad can serve up a repeat of his previous victory over Courtney, telling Echo.ie “He is with us now, and he beat Adam before in the Championships, and we have high hopes he will win the title.”
“Phil Sutcliffe [Crumlin BC Head Coach] did a great bit of work to have Evan in the shape he is, and full credit must go to Crumlin Boxing Club for that” be added.
Another St Mary’s boxer in the ring tonight is George Bates who is up against Shane Flavin of Paulstown Boxing Club in the 60kg division.
Bates has fought in no less than four Elite finals, losing three of them by a solitary point.
Still Coach Burke is positive about tonight’s fight saying “You have to beat who’s in front of you, but if he [Bates] performs to his potential, I feel he will win”.
Crumlin Boxing Club, meanwhile, will have three competitors involved in tonight’s quarter final line-up.
Tony McGlynn will face off against David Barrett of Rylane Boxing Club at welterweight.
Also fighting are Super heavyweights, John McDonnell who is in action against Antione Griffin of Celtic Eagles, and Konstantin Popovcuic who meets Patrick Nevin of St Michaels.
Ahead of the tournament Crumlin Head Coach Philip Sutcliffe told Echo.ie: “Tony McGlynn is last year’s Senior Champion, and is doing the Elites this year.
“Last year he boxed in the Middleweight division, but has dropped down to Welterweight.”
Speaking about his Super-Heavyweight McDonnell, Sutcliffe said: “John is a four-time National champion at juvenile, Under-18 and Under-22 level, and he only lost in the semi-finals last year on a split vote”.
Both McDonnell and Griffin fought some two years ago, with the Crumlin man emerging victorious then.
Also fighting at Super-Heavyweight is Popovcuic, who has returned to the ring after a nine-month absence due to injury.
Speaking of his protégé’s comeback, Sutcliffe remarked: “Popovcuic is physically very strong, and a commanding presence in the ring, and despite his long absence due to injury, we have high hopes for him.”
