There was double disappointment for Irish boxers in the early hours of this morning after Darren Sutherland and John Sweeney bowed out of the 2007 AIBA World Championships and Olympic qualifiers at the last 16 stage at the University of Chicago in Illinois.

Middleweight Sutherland, who was boxing for a place at next years Olympics, was beaten 20-13 by Alfonso Blanco
from Venezuela.

And Sweeney suffered a 28-5 reversal at the hands of Russian heavyweight Rakhim Chakhkiev.

Blanco's fast punching style, particularly with his right, was enough to take the first three rounds (10-4,15-6,18-10) before he was declared a winner by a seven point margin.

Sweeney was always going to be facing a tough task against the highly rated Chakhkiev, who was 7-1 ahead at the end of the first before building on his lead to march into the quarter finals.

But despite the loss it was a brave performance from the Donegal man who was competing in only his 10th international against an opponent who is favourite to go all the way in the 91Kg Division.

Irish captain Ken Egan, Eric Donovan and Paddy Barnes will all be in the ring tonight within one fight of the quarter finals and qualifying for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Light heavyweight Egan meets Croatian Marijo Sivolija, a silver medallist from the 2005 World Championships in Mianyang City China.

Egan beat Sivolija at the EU Championships in Sardinia over two years ago and both men looked destined to meet at the EU Championships at the National Stadium in Dublin last June but the Croatian pulled out after picking up a facial injury.

Donovan, meanwhile, renews acquaintances with Italian Dominico Valentino.

The two went head-to-head at the EU Championships at the National Stadium and it was the Italian that emerged victorious from the lightweight contest after a third round stoppage.

Light flyweight Paddy Barnes, who has recorded two convincing wins so far, is in against Kenji Ohkubo, an orthodox puncher from Japan.

For news, live scores,draws, rankings, and results log onto www.iaba.ie www.aiba.org http://www.worldboxingchicago.org/



Irish 2007 World Championships and Olympic Qualifying Tournament Draw (Last 16) University of Illinois Chicago


(Chicago time zone-5 hours Irish time)

Afternoon session 2pm
Evening session 7pm


October 31st Draw

48Kg: Paddy Barnes (Ireland) v Kenji Ohkubo (Japan) (Afternoon session)
60Kg: Eric Donovan (Ireland) v Dominico Valentino (Italy) (Afternoon session)
81Kg: Ken Egan (Ireland) v Marijo Sivolija (Croatia) (Evening session)


Results October 30th

75Kg: Darren Sutherland (Ireland) lost to Alfonso Blanco (Venezuela) 13-20
91Kg: John Sweeney (Ireland) lost to Rakhim Chakhkiev (Russia) 5-28

Results October 28th

48Kg: Paddy Barnes (Ireland) beat Sadegh Zade Faraj (Iran) RSCO3 (30-10)
60Kg: Eric Donovan (Ireland) beat Jonathan Batisa (Dominican Republic) 21-4
69Kg: Roy Sheahan (Ireland) lost to Rusian Khairov (Azerbaijan) 3-20
81Kg: Ken Egan (Ireland) beat Julio Torres Castillo (Ecuador) 16-10

Results October 27th

75Kg: Darren Sutherland (Ireland) beat Andranik Hakobyan (Armenia) 22-20
91+Kg: Cathal McMonagle (Ireland) lost to Islam Timurziev (Russia) RET1

Results October 26th

54Kg: Ryan Lindberg (Ireland) lost to McJoe Arroyo (Puerto Rico) RSCO3 (7-27)
91Kg: John Sweeney (Ireland) beat Branco Srdic (Serbia) RSC4 (18-14)

Results October 25th

48Kg: Paddy Barnes (Ireland) beat Choi Jon Chuk (Peoples Republic of Korea) 33-19
51Kg: Conor Ahern (Ireland) lost to Bato-Munko Vankeyeu 15-28
60Kg: Eric Donovan (Ireland) beat Mikios Varga (Hungary) 39-22
69Kg: Roy Sheahan (Ireland) beat Sang In Han (Korea) 22-7
81Kg: Ken Egan (Ireland) beat Julius Jackson (Virgin Islands) RSCO2 (21-1)

Results October 24th

57Kg: David Oliver Joyce (Ireland) lost to Davi Souza (Brazil) 10-21
75Kg: Darren Sutherland (Ireland) beat Roy Albert Cook (Dominica) W/O

Results October 23rd

64Kg: John Joe Joyce (Ireland) lost to Gyula Kate (Hungary) 17-32.



Irish 2007 AIBA World Championships Squad by Club

48Kg: Paddy Barnes (Holy Family GG, Belfast)
51Kg: Conor Ahern (Baldoyle, Dublin)
54Kg: Ryan Lindberg (Immaculata, Belfast)
57Kg: David Oliver Joyce (St Michael's Athy, Kildare)
60Kg: Eric Donovan (St Michael's Athy, Kildare)
64Kg: John Joe Joyce (St Michael's Athy, Kildare)
69Kg: Roy Sheahan (St Michael's Athy, Kildare)
75Kg: Darren Sutherland (St Saviours OBA, Dublin)
81Kg: Ken Egan (Neilstown, Dublin)
91Kg: John Sweeney (Dungloe, Donegal)
91+Kg: Cathal McMonagle (Holy Trinity, Belfast)

Irish 2007 AIBA World Championships Management

Performance Director: Gary Keegan
Coaches: Billy Walsh,Zuar Antia, Jim Moore
Team Manager: Jim Walsh
Physio: Scott Murphy
Performance Analysis: Alan Swanton
Strength and Conditioning: John Cleary
R&J: Eugene O'Kane.




Bernard O'Neill
Public Relations Officer
Irish Amateur Boxing Association
Ph: 086 057 9558
Fax: 061 408627
bernard.oneill@oceanfree.net
www.iaba.ie