Eight Athlone boxers to compete in UK tournament next week

Eight young boxers from Athlone Boxing Club will get a taste of international action next week when they travel to compete in the Barum Box Cup in the south of England.

The tournament is described as "three days of Olympic-style boxing" for the youth, junior and schools grades. It's taking place from September 8-10, and attracts clubs from all over the UK as well as Ireland and elsewhere in Europe.

"Over the last few years it has developed into a prestigious international boxing tournament," explained Athlone Boxing Club head coach Rory Parkes.

"The standard of competition is very high, and we're bringing over a very good team to it."

The Athlone Boxing Club team will consist of: Joe Ward (schoolboy, 44.5kg), Rian Hayden (junior, 54kg), Tom Stokes (youth, 86kg), Joe Joyce (junior, 80kg), JP Joyce (minor, 52kg), Tommy Joyce (minor, 38kg), Oisin Donoghue (schoolboy, 80kg) and Christy Joyce (junior, 63kg).

The tournament is being held in the Ilfracombe Holiday Park in Devon and the local group will be travelling over on Thursday next, September 7, ahead of the weigh-ins the following morning.

"It will be three days of boxing, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and obviously it's a knockout competition, so there will be quarter finals, semi finals and finals.

"We'll be weighing in on Friday morning and if you get beaten on Friday you're gone, but we're expecting our lads to do well because we have a good team and we've done a lot of work with them over the last six or seven weeks," said Rory.

"It's a young team - all eight boxers are under the age of 16 - but nationally and provincially they've gotten a lot of experience.

"We have done lots of sparring around the country, so I think our lads will be very competitive and we do hope to bring home some medals."