By Tom Degun

kenny_egan_22-08-11August 22 - The Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) have named their nine-man squad for the 2011 AIBA World Senior Championships Baku in Azerbaijan next month, with heavyweight Kenny Egan (pictured) set to spearhead their medal challenge.


The 29-year-old from Dublin, who won a silver medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, will be joined at the event, which also acts as a qualifier for the London 2012 Olympics, by a highly experienced team consisting of Paddy Barnes, Michael Conlon, John Joe Nevin, David Oliver Joyce, Roy Sheehan, Darren O'Neill, Joe Ward and Con Sheehan.

Barnes and Ward - who between them have won two gold medals at the 2010 and 2011 European Elite Championships - will wear the Irish light-flyweight and light-heavyweight vests in Baku, while 2009 European Union gold medallist Con Sheehan has been selected in the super-heavyweight category.

Bantamweight Nevin will be another strong prospect after winning bronze medal winner at the 2009 AIBA World Senior Championships, while 2010 European Elite Championships silver medallist O'Neill will compete at light-heavyweight and 2009 European Union champion Joyce will fight at featherweight.

Belfast's Conlon will compete at flyweight in Baku, while 2007 European Union champion Roy Sheehan will carry Ireland's welterweight hopes.

Ray Moylette, the current European Elite champion, and Ross Hickey, the current Irish Elite champion will meet in a box-off on September 2 to decide the light-welterweight position in what will be the biggest chance to book a spot at London 2012.

After the 2011 World Championships, which will take place from September 22 to October 10 at the Heydar Aliyev Sports and Exhibition Complex, there will be one final Olympic qualifier for European boxers at a venue to be confirmed next April.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]