Sweeney advances to last 16 in World Championships
Heavyweight John Sweeney produced one of the best performances of his career to advance to the last 16 of the 2007 World Championships and Olympic qualifiers following a round four stoppage of Serbian Branco Srdic at the University of Illinois in Chicago in the early hours of this morning.
But Immaculata Belfast bantamweight Ryan Lindberg is out following a round three 20 point rule last 32 reversal (27-7) to Puerto Rican Pam American Games gold medallist McJoe Arroyo yesterday.
Sweeny forced Srdic into four standing counts before the ref halted proceedings six seconds from the final bell with the Dungloe Donegal clubman 18-14 ahead.
Sweeney will now face Russian Rakhim Chakhkiev on Tuesday next.
Donegal born super heavyweight Cathal McMonagle, who boxes out of the Holy Trinity club in Belfast, will also face a Russian opponent, in the formidable shape of European champion Islam Timurziev, ranked 3rd in the World and 2nd in Europe, today.
Middleweight Darren Sutherland meets Andranik Hakobyan from Armenia this afternoon just two bouts from Olympic qualification.
Irish captain Ken Egan, Roy Sheahan, Eric Donovan and Paddy Barnes will all be in last 32 action tomorrow. If all four win then they will be just one fight away from qualifying for next years Olympic Games in Beijing.
