LONDON OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS John Joe Nevin and Paddy Barnes have withdrawn from this year’s National Elite Boxing Championships, giving up their senior titles without a fight.

Barnes was gunning for his seventh straight national crown in the light-flyweight division but was forced to pull out with the flu while five-time champ Nevin has a wrist injury.

Another of last year’s winners, defending super-heavyweight champion Con Sheehan, weighed in today but later withdrew with a hand injury.

Fighting begins in the National Stadium, Dublin tonight with European U23 champion Jason Quigley the standout attraction on a seven-strong card of preliminary bouts.

Quigley comes up against Navan’s Chris Blaney with the winner squaring off against London Olympic captain and national middleweight champion Darren O’Neill in tomorrow’s afternoon session from 2pm.

The national finals will be held in the National Stadium — not the Citywest Hotel as previously announced — on 22 February.

2013 National Elite Championships — Friday (from 7pm)

• 69kg: Stephen Mulholland (St Malachys) v Petru Ursu (Lucan)
• 69kg: Phil Moloney (St Francis) v Patrick Cawley (Baldoyle)
• 69kg: Craig McCarthy (St Pauls) v Steven Donnelly (All Saints)
• 75kg: Jason Quigley (Finn Valley) v Chris Blaney (Navan)
• 91kg: Ken Okungbowa (Moate) v Bernard O’Reilly (Portlaoise)
• 91kg: Jimmy Sweeney (Drimnagh) v Christy Joyce (St Michael’s Athy)
• F69kg: Joanna Barcley (Holy Family) v Patrique Kelly (St Francis)

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