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42 lBOXING NEWSlJUNE 27, 2019 http://www.boxingnewsonline.netBOXING at the second edition of
the European Games got underway
at the Sport Palace Uruchie in
Minsk, Belarus. Welterweight Pat
McCormack, a 2016 Olympian,
began the campaign for GB boxers
on Saturday ( June 22), unanimously
outpointing Hungary’s Lazlo Kozak.The top seed in his division,
Pat had his second contest of the
tournament on Monday ( June
24), winning another unanimous
decision as he beat Estonia’s Pavel
Kamanin.
Another 2016 Olympian, Galal
Yafai, now a flyweight began his
tournament on Monday, taking a
unanimous decision over Hungary’s
Martin Virban. “I’ve got to do
better against better opposition if
I’m going to get that gold medal,”
Galal noted. “I’ve come close in a
couple of tournaments and I need
to start winning those titles now.”
Monday did see a shock defeat
for one of the mainstays of the
British team. Super-heavyweight
Frazer Clarke is a veteran
contender and, as a European silver
medallist, was expected to do well.
However Germany’s Nelvie Tiafack
edged him out at the first stage,
beating him on a split decision in
Frazer’s first contest in Belarus.
“I felt a bit flat in there and
something wasn’t right,” Clarke
reflected. “I’m at the stage of my
career where I shouldn’t still be
learning. I have to take the blame
and prepare to come back again.”
Liverpool’s Peter McGrail,
the gifted bantamweight on the
GB squad, handled his first bout,
winning unanimous decision over
Belgium’s Vasile Usturoi. “This
might not be a qualifying event [for
the Olympic Games] any more but
the better you do in this tournament
it could still be important,” McGrail
said. “You are still making yourself
well-known to the judges and the
fans and you don’t know what is
going to happen so you just have
to concentrate on continuing to put
the good performances in.”
Other GB boxers who have
progressed include Ben Whittaker,
seeded second at 81kgs. He
outscored Poland’s Mateusz
Goinski on a unanimous decision
and, at 91kgs, Cheavon Clarke
took every round for all three judges
as he defeated Estonia’s Ainar
Karlson.
Light-flyweights Regan Daly and
Aqeel Ahmed took victories for
Ireland and Scotland respectively.
Daly claimed an impressive win overRussia’s Bator Sagaluev, winning
unanimously.
Ahmed shut out Poland’s Jakub
Slominiski with a unanimous
decision. “Good to get the first
one out the way against Poland.
A high pace fight which sets me up
good for the next one,” the pleased
Scotsman said.
Ireland’s Michael Nevin met
GB’s new middleweight Mark
Dickinson in their first bout. The
Irishman edged him out on a 3-2
split decision. After losing the first
round Nevin had to work his way
back into the contest. “I had a slow
start in the first round but in the
second I came back strong. I just
kept listening to the coach and our
tactics worked. On to the next one,”
said Nevin.
Ireland’s High Performance
director Bernard Dunne said, “He
was very effective, very clever how
he boxed. It was a great start for the
team and a really good win against a
very good opponent.
“Michael will grow after this, that
win will give him a great boost.”
In the next round Nevin went
on to eliminate Azerbaijan’s
Kamran Shakhsuvarly, taking
an impressive unanimous decision
win over the Azeri. Shakhsuvarly is
a decorated international who won
bronze medals at the last Olympic
Games and World championships,
as well a 2017 European silver.
“I’m very happy with my
performance, on to the next one
now. We had a good plan,” said
Nevin after his second big win in
two days.
“Superb finish to the day with
Michael Nevin putting in a top-class
performance. Showed skill, strength
and guts when needed,” Dunne
added.
Fellow Irishman Kieran Molloy
advanced through the opening stage
at 69kgs, beating North Macedonia’s
Goce Janeski on a unanimous
decision. But he lost his second
bout, beaten on a split decision
by host nation boxer Yauheni
Dauhaliavets.
James McGivern, Ireland’s
64kgs, unanimously defeated
Slovakia’s Michal Takacs. At 91kgs
Anthony Browne was the first IrishGOOD
STA RT:
Aqeel
Ahmed
[top],
Cheavon
Clarke
[above]
and Pat
McCormack
[right] win
their first
bouts
EURO GAMES: SO FAR, SO GOOD
British and Irish boxers kick
off Minsk 2019 with an array
of wins, but some big names
lose out early. John Dennen
on the opening days’ action
from June 22-24
Photos: GB BOXING