(JUNE 28) The 2nd European Games ends in Minsk, Belarus this weekend with 'all still to play for' in terms of Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals.

The boxing competition is taking place at the Dvorets Sporta Uruch'ye, Minsk.

Despite the 'massive' loss in the days before the tournament of Joe Ward (who has turned Pro) and the injured Brendan Irvine who were well fancied to strike Gold, the young Irish squad has exceeded expectations against most of the top teams - and boxers - in Europe.

Irish team captain Kellie Harrington, Michaela Walsh, Kurt Walker, Grainne Walsh, Regan Buckley, and Michael Nevin box today in their weight category semi-finals.

All six are guaranteed at least bronze.

Great Britain (7), Russia (7) and Ireland (6) have the highest representation in the semi-finals at the 44-nation tournament.

Semi-finalists in Minsk

Great Britain, Russia: 7 boxers
Ireland: 6 boxers
Italy: 5 boxers
Armenia, Ukraine: 4 boxers
Bulgaria, Germany, Netherlands, Poland: 3 boxers
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Croatia, France, Georgia: 2 boxers
Finland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey: 1 boxer


Due to TV and Live Streaming contracts alas many countries are unable to see their stars in action, something which has been greatly criticized by true boxing fans throughout Europe who feel that the EUBC should have ensured LIVE STREAMING was in place at least for semi-finals and finals but some fans can still see the bouts of they have "pay per view" contracts with either EirSport in Ireland or BT Sport in the UK.

European Games 2019 Minsk, Belarus - (UK/Irish times)

June 28

S/Finals

49kg Regan Buckley (Ireland) v Artur Hovannisyan (Armenia) (6.15pm)
56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) v Peter McGrail (Team GB) (6.30pm)
57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) v Daria Abramova (Russia) (12pm)
60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) v Agnes Alexiusson (Sweden) (5pm)
69kg Grainne Walsh (Ireland) v Karolina Koszewska (Poland) (12.45pm)
75kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) v Salvatore Cavallaro (Italy) (7.45pm)

Ireland has won 15 of their 20 bouts in Belarus since last weekend.

Head coach Zaur Antia and coaches John Conlan and Dmitry Dimitruk are working Ireland’s corner in Minsk.

“The team has performed fantastically against world class opposition since last Saturday, said Dominic O’Rourke, President of the IABA.

“All concerned, the squad, coaches and staff deserve enormous credit for what has been a brilliant tournament. The team will take a lot of confidence from their performance so far going into today’s semi-finals.”

For fans from countries other than Ireland, we include this link from the EUBC boxing confederation updating the top news of all the Continent's leading contenders for Gold in Minsk.