WATERFORD’S KELYN CASSIDY got Ireland off the mark at the 2021 AIBA World Elite Men’s Boxing Championships in Belgrade with a sensational performance to beat Mexican Olvera Arriaga and advance to the last 16 at 80kg.
Cassidy, whom earlier this month won his first Irish Senior title with a shock stoppage of Cork’s Tommy Hyde, was more refined over three rounds with Olvera, smoothly out-boxing his cruder foe over nine brilliant minutes.
The 24-year-old was awarded every round on all five judges’ scorecards, earning a unanimous-decision victory in his first ever World Championship bout.
Cassidy will face Tajikistan’s Shabbos Negmatulloev, a Tokyo Olympian, in his last-16 bout next week.
The Saviours Crystal fighter was Ireland’s final hope of earning a victory at this year’s Worlds: a young and internationally inexperienced team had until his bout struggled, with Ricky Nesbitt’s defeat to Uzbek Nodrjon Mirakhmor at 48kg earlier today leaving only Cassidy with a chance of extending Ireland’s interests into week two in Belgrade.
Cassidy is a regular sparring partner of Irish amateur boxing great Joe Ward, now operating in the professional ranks, and a victory versus Tajik Negmatulloev next week would see him fight for a medal at the next stage.
