Boxers prepare for Kansas trip

Boxing has now become an all year round sport and this has become very evident in the Cavan Boxing Club gym over the summer months. This weekend sees Olympian John Joe Nevin in action at the National Stadium in Dublin where he takes part in an international Multi-nations event against the best from England, Holland, Finland, Sweden and Uzbekistan over three days. This is part of the Irish team's preparation for the World Championships to be staged this September in Milan. The six nations have all been preparing at a camp in Dublin over the past 10 days and will box off in competition over the Bank Holiday weekend. Local Gardai and one of the coaches in the Cavan gym David Conlon has also been winding up his preparations for the World Police and Firemens championships as well as helping the squad for the Ringside World Tournament prepare for Kansas City. Conlon leaves for Vancouver, Canada this weekend to defend his middleweight title. A strong and very experienced international competitor, David will certianly be the one to beat and despite approaching the veteran stage of his career he is still a hot handful for all but the very best. Also back in the gym after his London win is top pro and current EU champion Andrew Murray as he begins his preparations for a major contest in late September. Murray is bouyed by the news that his manager and promoter Brian Peters has won the purse bids to stage Bernard Dunne's mandatory world title defence. While the date and venue have yet to be confirmed it seems certain that it will take place in late September or early October at a venue in either Ireland, China or the USA. Murray's eye injury which required four stiches is healing nicely and while it was a major concern on the night, it will hopefully not provide any major problems further down the road. While a mandatory defence of his EU title would certianly seem on for Dublin if the Dunne defence went on outside of Ireland, one could well see the Cavan man tackle a good class international opponent as he attempts to gatecrash the world rankings. The Cavan team for Kansas City also flies out this weekend and the 10-strong squad will be joined by the Cootehill and Smithborough clubs on the trip. The Ringside event is the biggest international tournament in the world for club boxers and the Cavan club have made histort by not only being the first club from Ireland to compete in it but have also brought back two world titles through David Nevin and Caroline Reilly The current squad is a mixture of experienced campainers and emerging prospects and with Gemma Lee, Ceire Smith, Joe and Hugh Nevin all Irish champions and Paddy Nevin and Adam Cullen only losing out in Irish Cadet finals on countbacks, they will certainly not be easily beaten in the open class divisions. Current Ulster novice champions Pat McCann, Micheal Hatton, Donal Cadden and Charlie Glackin make up the rest of the team and it is expected that the experience gained in the US will benefit them greatly as their ring careers progress over the coming season. Cootehill will be represented by Barry Harkin and Chris Keenan who will travel with club coach Brian O'Connor while Smithboro will have the Murphy and McKenna brothers accompanied by trainer Fergal McKenna on their first trip abroad.