Up and down week for boxer Sweeney in bid for Olympics

IT’S been a topsy-turvy week or so for Olympic BC fighter Gary Sweeney who claimed victory on his debut in the World Series of Boxing at York Hall, London last Thursday but has since been forced out of his March 13 bout in Morocco due to a facial injury sustained in that fight.

Having already missed his first contest with his team Mexico Guerreros due to injury, Sweeney was anxious to take the first step towards realising his dream of qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics with victory in his bout against Romanian Jitaur Ionut-Mirel of the British Lions team last week.

By the fifth and final round, the Galway City heavyweight, having led the contest from pillar to post, looked to be up and running in terms of climbing up the order of merit only to suffer a cut above the eye in a clash of heads.

The gash subsequently required six stitches and the cut now rules him out of picking up further valuable ranking points in Morocco next week. It also means Sweeney must win his fight in China on April 17 if he is to have any chance of qualifying for Rio through the WSB route.

“It does slow down the process a bit (in terms of qualification for Rio) but we have just received confirmation that Gary has qualified for the APB (AIBA Pro Boxing), in which Joe Ward and David Oliver Joyce compete. So, that opens another avenue for Gary,” says his brother and coach Michael.

“Of course, he is disappointed really with missing out on the fight in Morocco but you have to look at the positives. This gives him an extra four or five weeks in training for his next fight in China.

“Like any athlete though, he is disappointed to be missing out (on the fight in Morocco) – it is just unfortunate – but at least the injury doesn’t rule him out for too long. The most important thing now is he keeps fighting and keeps winning because there is also the European Championships in August,” says his trainer.

Sweeney had won his contest against the Romanian on a unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46) over five three minute rounds at York Hall, with the victory firing the Guerreros team into an unassailable 3-0 lead over the British Lions on the night.

The 2014 Irish Elite champion and 2011 European Youth silver medallist, who was assisted in his corner by Irish coach Eddie Bolger, easily controlled the fight until he was left with a cut over his right eye with less than 15 seconds to the final bell following a clash of heads.

However, the confirmation that he can now also explore the APB route, which provides 20 quota places for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, will be a big boost to the Galway City fighter.

Meanwhile, there was no joy for Sweeney’s Olympic BC club-mate Debbie O’Reilly on her Ireland debut at the National Stadium last Friday night. The Rahoon woman was defeated in her bout by Ukrainian Oganna Khrei.