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Fight Club

Ireland near medal double at World Youth Boxing Championships

Kurt Walker and John Joe McDonagh both face bronze medal bouts in Yerevan this afternoon.

IRELAND’S LAST MEN standing could complete a medal double later today at the World Youth Boxing Championships in Yerevan, Armenia.

Kurt Walker and John Joe McDonagh are one win away from a place in the semi-finals and the guarantee of at least a bronze medal.

The pair booked their place in the last eight with wins on Monday but there was disappointment for Ireland’s three other remaining hopefuls as team captain Keith Flavin, Chris Nevin and Hughie Nevin all lost out.

Lisburn’s Walker comes up against Ian Clarke Bautista of the Phillippines following a dramatic comeback victory against French flyweight Sam Kistohurry. Walker trailed 11-9 at the end of two tight opening rounds but dominated the closing exchanges and ran out a convincing 18-14 winner.

McDonagh, who fights out of Crumlin BC, had enough to get the job done in the early rounds of his last 16 light-heavyweight bout against Eric Finau. The New Zealander shaded the final round but it was not enough to deny McDonagh an 8-7 win.

McDonagh is due in the ring at 4.30pm Irish time when he faces Idris Shakhmanov of Russia. Walker is first up against Bautista at 3.15pm.