IRISH WELTERWEIGHT STEVEN Donnelly has progressed to the quarter-finals of the Rio Olympics with a split decision victory over Tuvshinbat Byamba of Mongolia.
On a difficult week for Irish boxing, the 27-year-old progressed to the last-eight after a close contest and now stands just one bout away from a medal.
The Ballymena fighter, who defeated Algerian Zohir Kadache by unanimous decision on his debut in Rio, was up 10-9 10-9 9-10 after the opening exchanges this evening.
After a messy second round, his opponent had pulled level on two scorecards – 19-19, 19-19, 20-18 — but Donnelly edged out the win in final three minutes.
“Everything went to plan,” Donnelly told RTÉ afterwards. “It was a really tough fight, and I knew it would be.
I dug in until the very end and here I am — won my first two fights and I’m starting to feel good now.”
He faces Moroccan number one and world champion Mohammed Rabii in the next round.
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all the best Alan….Gave a powerful display in Killarney on the first day
With the amounts of games being played in football and hurling each year. It’s a testament to the coaches and fitness of the player’s themselves not only at county level but at club level that these injuries are kept to a minimum. Catching and landing, at the same time turning while under pressure must put a lot of pressure on the knees.The fact player’s come back from a break easier than a cruciate says it all. Wish him a speedy recovery.
End of his career possibly?
Doesn’t matter because corks season could be over today anyway
Well the man has club, family and work commitments so it does matter
Self employed aswell!!
GAA have Alot to answer for on this and it treatment of it players ,6 day turn around just to line the coffers of the gaa
Heart goes out to him , let’s all hope it’s not as bad as we all fear. Best of luck in his recovery