Four nations capitalise on Kindelan's absence
Ireland and Britain recorded an impressive 6-2 victory over Cuba at Dublin’s National Stadium after Olympic champion Mario Kindelan was forced to withdraw at late notice.
Kindelan, who has been lined-up to face Amir Khan in a rematch of their Athens final next month, said that he had sustained an injury during his victory over Frankie Gavin in Liverpool last week.
Ireland’s Conor Ahern, Andy Lee, David Oliver Joyce, Eric Donovan and Karl Brabazon were all victorious while England’s Ian Lewinson won at super-heavyweight after Leovan Hernandez suffered a shoulder injury in the third round.
Ahern pulled off a sensational upset when he outpointed Ivan Perez.
In the second of two internationals between the Four Nations and Cuba, Ahern gave the home country a perfect start when he defeated Perez 35-23.
In a fast and furious light-flyweight contest Ahern’s relentless pressure allowed him to pull away in the third and fourth rounds.
Despite forcing Jorge Herrera to take a count in the third round of their welterweight contest, Brabazon was trailing 10-9 going into the fourth round.
But the Irishman managed to get the better of some furious exchanges and edged a 17-14 verdict. Bantamweight Joyce comfortably defeated Osieri Hernandez 27-7, while featherweight Donovan overcame Argelio Hernandez 28-16.
European bronze medallist Lee then secured an historic victory for the Four Nations when he took revenge over Yordanis Despaigne, who had defeated him last week in Liverpool.
In a closely-contested bout, Lee left his best work to the final round and took a deserved 13-8 decision in their middleweight duel.
There was disappointment for England’s Stuart Langley when he lost for the second time in seven days to Wamalki Aguilar, 28-12.
The Cubans enjoyed one other victory when Luis Pons comfortably outpointed Irishman Ian Tims 21-11.
