Belfast’s Michael Conlan made it four from four for Ireland’s boxers in the European Championships in Minsk today, with a split decision win over Ovik Ogannisian of Russia.
After Paddy Barnes, John Joe Nevin and Jason Quigley guaranteed themselves silver medals with semi-final wins this morning, the pressure was on Conlan to follow suit. He delivered, according to two of three judges.
The flyweight second seed won 30-27, 28-29, 30-27 to set up a final encounter tomorrow with number one seed Andrew Selby of Wales, who beat Elvin Mamishzada of Azerbaijan.
Barnes, also of Belfast, made the light-flyweight final this morning, defeating Salman Alizada of Azerbaijan 30-27, winning all three rounds with a superbly aggressive display.
“I was gobsmacked to see him ranked ahead of me in the world rankings and he was a current champion but that’s because I wasn’t there,” said Nevin afterwards. “Still, it’s great to get a win against a European Champion.”
David Ayrapetyan of Russia, who beat England’s Jack Bateson 3-0 in his semi-final, stands between Barnes and gold tomorrow.
Mullingar native Nevin, 24 today, proved too strong for Russian Nikitin Vladimir. The bantamweight won the first two rounds and even though he tired in the third held on for a 29-28 victory.
“I had to start quick get the first two under my belt,” said Nevin. “I think he got the last round. He was piling on the pressure alright. I knew once I won the first two he was going to come out like a roaring lion looking for a stoppage. Again I started fast and that was the aim.
“Any Russian boxer is not to be sneezed at. They are all good boxers, the third ranked, the fourth, they’re all good Russians.”
Nevin will meet Mykola Butsenko tomorrow after the Ukrainian won his semi-final on a split decision.
Arguably the performance of the morning came from Donegal middleweight Quigley in his first senior international championship, as he won a unanimous verdict when beating current world champion Ievgen Khytrov of Ukraine.
He won all three rounds (30-27) on two of the judes cards and 29-28 on the other.
It was a hugely impressive display, an amalgam of real quality and belief, though Khytrov could not believe the decision and delayed his exit from the ring.
Romanian number two seed Bogdan Juratoni awaits Quigley in the final after his 2-1 win over third seed Zoltan Harcsa of Hungary.
