Boxing:Ireland claimed four gold and two silver medals from the 19-nation Elite Tammer Multi Nations which concluded in Tampere, Finland today.
David Oliver Joyce, who also scooped the boxer of the tournament award, Ken Egan, John Joe Joyce and Conrad Cummings finished on top of their respective podiums, while Ross Hickey and Con Sheehan won silver medals.
David Oliver Joyce got the gold rush underway with a top drawer win over Joe Cordina of Wales. The EU champion led 4-3 and 9-7 at the end of the first two rounds on his way to the 60kg title and to his second victory in-a-row over the Welsh lightweight.
John Joe Joyce, a cousin and St Michael’s Athy team-mate of David Oliver’s, secured Ireland’s second gold over Finland’s Antti Hietala. The Beijing 2008 Olympian and European bronze medallist was awarded a 12-10 decision.
Hickey was aiming for gold in the light-welterweight class but lost out to England’s Sam Maxwell. Cummings, meanwhile, cruised to a highly impressive 22-9 decision over Finland’s Henri Kekalainen. The Belfast middleweight was in control of the three-rounder from the opening bell and floored his opponent twice in the final frame to cap a dominant display.
Egan completed the hat-trick of wins over the hosts at the expense of Tomi Honka. The 2008 Olympic silver medallist, boxing well within himself, was rarely troubled in this light-heavyweight decider en route to a 16-8 decision and Ireland’s fourth gold medal of the day.
Tipperary super-heavyweight Con Sheehan was targeting a fifth gold for Ireland but was beaten by a four-point margin by England’s Joe Joyce, who lost out to current Olympic champion Anthony Joshua in 2011.