The battle for the one Olympic place in the World Series of Boxing light-fly class is now a two-horse race between Ireland’s Paddy Barnes and Uzbekistan’s Hasanboy Dusmatov.
Joselito Valazquez was in action in his last WSB fight of the regular season this morning (Irish time) in China needing to earn a maximum of five points to match Barnes on 30 points at the top of the table.
But the Mexican orthodox, who was on 25 points, won on a split decision (four points) versus Junjun He of the China Dragons and can’t match Barnes at top.
Dusmatov, who fights for the Ukraine Otamans and who is on 28 points, can overtake Barnes. He’s in action in his last fight in Kiev tonight versus Russia’s Belik Galanov in Group A (C1)and will go three points ahead of the Belfast dynamo if he secures a maximum return.
However, Barnes, if he beats Venezuela’s Finol Rivas on a unanimous decision, KO or TKO (five points), or a split decision (four points), in his last outings for Italia Thunder in Group B (C1) in Maiquetía, Venezuela in the early hours of this Sunday morning (Irish time) will return to the top of the table and qualify for his third successive Olympics.
Michael Conlan, who is in fourth spot in the bantam table, lines out for Thunder versus Jose Diaz-Azocar in Maiquetía. The top two bantams qualify for Rio.
Just one place is available for light-flys through the WSB. Barnes, who has won six from six so far this season, will be secure that place if he improves to seven from seven this weekend.
All the very best to Team Ireland Boxers and coaches boxing for WSB franchise Italian Thunder in Venezuela this weekend.
