|
|
Illies boxer's Beijing showdown
19.03.08
by Simon McGeady, Inishowen Independent
DESPITE his 9-8 victory over Joe McDonagh in a
box-off at the National Stadium on Saturday
afternoon, William McLaughlin now faces the prospect
of having to defeat Irish Welterweight champion Roy
Sheehan if he is to make next month’s final Olympic
qualifiers in Athens.
The Illies Golden Gloves fighter survived a tough
encounter to win 2-0, 2-3, 5-5. The Brosna boxer
received two public warnings that, crucially, saw
the Illies man awarded two points in both the second
and third rounds.
The decision to sanction the additional welterweight
box-off was reached following prior consultation
with Illies Golden Gloves and McDonagh’s club. |
McLaughlin now faces an
anxious weight to see if he will have to fight
Sheehan for a place on the plane to Greece on the
6th of April.
Sheehan, the reigning Irish welterweight champion,
broke his left hand in sparring at the Irish squads
training camp and missed the penultimate Olympic
qualifier for European boxers, held in the Italian
city of Pescara last month. |
 |
Speaking to the
Inishowen Independent yesterday Bernard O’Neill, the
IABA PRO said there was no fixed date for the box
off with McLaughlin but added that Sheehan would be
given until he 11th hour to prove his fitness to
take on Illies man.
The IABA spokesperson revealed that a scan on
Sheehan’s injury revealed it to be less serious than
feared. O’Neill was confident the Athy boxer would
face McLaughlin in a box-off for the 69kg spot,
which will take place either at the National Stadium
or the adjacent high performance team gym.
The winner will secure a place at the Beijing
Olympics if they reach the welterweight final,
although there is a scenario by which McLaughlin or
Sheehan would qualify as beaten semi-finalist in
Greece.
Illies Referee/Judge Sadie Duffy said that William
was faced with a ‘sticky-wicket’ after Sheehan
missed the Pescara qualifier.
“William has fulfilled his part and has had done
everything that was asked of him by the IABA. It
would be very foolish to take out a boxer in the
middle of a recovery process only for him to have to
withdraw,” said Duffy.
McLaughlin has faced Sheehan just once before, in
the semi-final of last year’s National
Championships, the Illies man retiring after
suffering an eye injury.
McLaughlin will spend six days a week for the next
three weeks training with the Irish high performance
team to prepare for a possible appearance in Athens,
where 25 five Olympics places are on offer for
European boxers across weight categories. |
|
