Waterford boxer Kelyn Cassidy will start his run at the European Games tomorrow.
He's been drawn against Mindaugas Gedminas - who is hoping to be the first Norwegian boxer to represent his country at the Olympics in 24 years.
80kg Kelyn Cassidy, Ballybeg, Waterford.
Kelyn, of Saviours Crystal BC, is the reigning Elite champion, this year’s Usti nad Labem Grand Prix Champion & a previous Men’s World Championship quarter finalist. He also claimed 🥉 at this year’s 74th Strandja International Tournament pic.twitter.com/zcXPuy5yq9— IABA (@IABABOXING) June 22, 2023
Cassidy will be in the ring tomorrow for the opening bout, knowing that just five contests stand between him and a place on the plane to Paris next summer.
In the 80kg weight class - anybody who advances past the quarter-finals will secure a place at the Olympics, but the two-time senior elite champion says that his goal is a lot more near-sighted than thinking of potential Olympic qualification.
"Look, it's in my mind. Obviously, that's what you want to do but I'm here just to perform. Take it one round at a time, one fight at a time and I know that once my performance is where it has to be, I know the result will take care after itself," he notes.
He tells WLR Sport that "the body is great" ahead of the first bell and considering the year he had in 2022 with two long-term hand injuries, having a clean bill of health is a terrific starting point.
"I've been training hard the last couple of months and it's starting to pay off now. I'm just looking forward to getting into the ring and boxing to show off the hard works that's gone in," says Cassidy.
The Saviours Crystals boxer is the reigning Irish senior elite champion at light heavyweight and reached the quarter-finals of last year's World Championships.
