ANTRIM DUO LEAD IRISH

ANTRIM’S Kurt Walker and Sean Mccomb get Ireland’s campaign at the World Elite Championships underway in Hamburg, Germany today.

The European bronze medallists meet Leonel De Los Santos of the Dominican Republic and Brazil’s Joedison De Jesus in the last 32 in the bantam and light-welter classes.

Walker (above) is defending the bantam title claimed by Michael Conlan, who has since turned pro.

Mccomb (left), who beat Russia’s World champion Vitaly Dunaytev twice this year, will face Cuba’s No.2 seed Andy Cruz if he beats De Jesus today.

Tipperary super-heavy Dean Gardiner is between the ropes Saturday, and Rio Olympians Brendan Irvine (Antrim) and Joe Ward (Westmeath) received byes into the last 16.

Ward, who won silver in Doha, awaits the winner of the light-heavy clash between Georgia’s Iago Kizira and Scotland’s Sean Lazzerini, who the Irish captain beat en route to gold at June’s European Championships.

Zaur Antia is Ireland head coach in Hamburg and John Conlan, father of Michael, and Dimitry Dimiotru are Irish coaches.

“All our boys are capable,” said John Conlan. “All the hard work is done now and we have a clearer picture as we know who the opposition is and we’ll get the opportunity to study them.

“The guys are confident they can get over the first hurdle.”