As most of you probably know, it starts on the 22nd of September in Baku. I am really looking forward to it this year, wheere we will get to see talented amateurs vy for world championship gold, and some to book their place at the olympics. Some great boxers will be competing this year, and quite a few of them will go on to become world class pros. Check it out. Also what kind of squads are your countries sending? Any notable talents?
I too am waiting for this. The problem with these amateur events is that they are so poorly marketed ... there's no info on the official website about the boxers, fight schedules etc. This is the second biggest prize in amateur boxing after the Olympics but the AIBA promote it like it is some local village fest.
Cuba's Team should be one of the strongest, like always. Notables are: Correa Jr, Roniel Iglesias, Erislandy Savon and others. Hopefully some of them defect so we can get to see them in the pros like Gamboa, Rigondeaux, Lara and others are doing.
Cuba and Russia are definitely the two top countries competing. Other notables will be Ukraine, Ireland and several others.
Probably Irelands strongest team ever, World Youth and European Senior champions Ray Moylette and Joe Ward could medal as well as Olympic medalist and European+Commonwealth champ Paddy Barnes and John Joe Nevin the world bronze medalsit . Its probably Irelands strongest possible team although I would have thought Willie McLoughlin would be no1 at 69kg . Irish Squad 2011 AIBA World Championships Baku, Azerbaijan 49Kg (Light-flyweight) - Paddy Barnes (Holy Family BC, Belfast) 52Kg: (Flyweight) - Michael Conlon (St John Bosco BC, Belfast) 56Kg: (Bantamweight) - John Joe Nevin (Cavan BC) 60Kg: (Lightweight) - David Oliver Joyce (St Michael's Athy BC, Kildare) 64Kg: (Light-welterweight) - Ray Moylette (St Anne's BC, Mayo) 69Kg: (Welterweight) - Roy Sheehan (St Michael's Athy BC, Kildare) 75Kg: (Middleweight) - Darren O'Neill (Paulstown BC, Kilkenny) 81Kg: (Light-heavyweight) - Joe Ward (Moate BC, Westmeath) 91Kg: (Heavyweight) - Ken Egan (Neilstown BC, Dublin) 91Kg+: (Super-heavyweight) - Con Sheehan (Clonmel BC, Tipperary)
Right, I hope that Cuba does well. They were robbed of many Golds at the 08 Olympics in China! :twisted:
Many were robberies, I believe Cuba went into the finals with 6 fighters and all lost. First time in history that Cuba went home with no Golds ...
