Thorpe comes close
Wednesday March 10 2010
DESPITE A near-perfect performance, Derek Thorpe (Ferns St. Aidan's) narowly went down 7-5 to John Joe Nevin in a classic Bantamweight final at the Elite Senior boxing championship finals in the National Stadium on Friday night last.
In the lead-up to the final, Thorpe was given little chance of upsetting the World bronze medal winner. This looked like coming through as Nevin led 3-1 at the first bell.
Thorpe rallied superbly, however, and in a hard-working spell fought his way through the Cavan man's guard to go 5-3 up.
Thorpe had a real plan going into the fight and it looked to be working to perfection. Not attacking his opponent who is an exper counter puncher, Thorpe played the waiting game, picking off his scores in the second with some superb punches.
It was only when Nevin forced a standing count in the third round that the prospect of a stunning upset was finally removed, and the champion himself acknowledged that it wasn't one of his better displays.
But credit goes to Thorpe and his father, John, who acts as coach, for the excellent approach.
Boxers from the county are competing in the Leinster Boy and Girl 1, 2, 3 championships in Dundalk this weekend when the semi-finals and finals will be held.
