OLYMPIC BRONZE MEDALLISTS Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan are the star names in Ireland’s team for the World Boxing Championships.
Barnes and Conlan are joined by London team-mate Adam Nolan in the 10-man squad which flies out to Kazakhstan next Sunday.
But Olympic silver medallist and bantamweight number one John Joe Nevin is nowhere to be seen.
The two-time world medallist missed a team training camp in Castlebar earlier this month, sparking speculation that he is on the verge of signing a professional deal.
Gary McKenna from Old School BC in Monaghan is named in his place.
The fifth man from Ireland’s 2012 Olympic team, Darren O’Neill, slammed the selection process after he was overlooked and not even offered a chance to fight for his place.
Instead reigning national champions Jason Quigley and Joe Ward were chosen in the middleweight and light-heavyweight divisions.
“Team picked 4 worlds & didn’t even get boxoff,” O’Neill tweeted. “Use & abuse, way of those in charge it seems.”
2011 European gold medallist Ray Moylette, Con Sheehan, and Belfast duo Sean McComb and Tommy McCarthy complete the team.
The championships begin in Almaty, Kazakhstan on 11 October.
Ireland squad for World Championships
- 49kg: Paddy Barnes (Holy Family)
- 52kg: Michael Conlan (St John Bosco)
- 54kg: Gary McKenna (Old School)
- 60kg: Sean McComb (Holy Trinity)
- 64kg: Ray Moylette (St Anne’s)
- 69kg: Adam Nolan (Bray)
- 75kg: Jason Quigley (Finn Valley)
- 81kg: Joe Ward (Moate)
- 91kg: Tommy McCarthy (Oliver Plunkett)
- 91kg+: Con Sheehan (Clonmel)
