Egan to fight in Olympic venue

Boxing: Beijing silver medallist, Ken Egan, will take part in the first international event since deciding to revert to light…

Boxing:Beijing silver medallist, Ken Egan, will take part in the first international event since deciding to revert to light heavyweight following a disappointing season in the heavyweight division.

Egan is hoping that next week's Olympic Test event in London will be a dry run for London 2012 after he was named in a six-strong Irish squad for the tournament, which begins next Thursday at the ExCel, the boxing venue for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Declan Geraghty, David Oliver Joyce, Conrad Cummings, Tommy McCarthy and Con Sheehan are also included in the Irish team. There is no Joe Ward, who is the current Irish light heavyweight champion and European champion.

The Test will be fought on a last-eight format, and Egan, who will be wearing the

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Irish light-heavyweight vest in London, is looking forward to getting the feel of the venue.

"Hopefully, we'll have as many boxers as possible back in London again next year for the real thing. The Test will give us the opportunity to get the feel of the place and to experience competing at the venue," said Egan.

Irish boxers have one more chance to qualify for London 2012 at a qualification tournament to be staged next year.

Three Irish boxers, Cavan’s John Joe Nevin, Kilkenny’s Darren O'Neill and Michael Conlan from Belfast have qualified

for the 2012 Olympics from last month's AIBA World Championships in Baku.

Irish squad

56Kg:Declan Geraghty (Crumlin)

60Kg: David Oliver Joyce (St Michael's Athy)

75Kg: Conrad Cummings (Holy Trinity)

81Kg;Ken Egan (Neilstown)

91Kg:Tommy McCarthy (Oliver Plunkett)

91+Kg: Con Sheehan (Clonmel)

Team manager:Des Donnelly

Coaches:Billy Walsh & Zuar Antia

Physio: Conor McCarthy