Offaly boxer makes brave exit from World Championships

OFFALY boxer Brian Kennedy gave it his very best shot but still made his exit when he boxed for the first time in the World Championships in Liverpool on Tuesday evening.

The teak tough Daingean man did very well to qualify for these championships but a second round point deduction did not help his cause in his 85kg last sixteen bout with Ukraine's Danylo Zhasan.

A 5-0 decision went against Kennedy, a member of a great Daingean GAA and sporting family, with judges scoring the bout: 30: 26, 30: 26, 30:25, 30: 26, 30: 26.

Now attention turns to Tullamore woman Grainne Walsh who will box for a medal in Wednesday evening's session. A member of St Mary's Boxing Club in Tallaght, Walsh takes on China’s Yang Liu, the Paris silver medallist at the 65kg weight. Walsh has already been in great form, beating Spain’s Mariana Soto Torres Jessica Triebelova of Slovakia, both 5-0.