FOUR TOKYO MEDAL PROSPECTS FACING UNCERTAIN FUTURES

JOE WARD (light-heavyweight)

The Moate man just needs an Olympic medal to complete a full set of major honours. He disappointed in Rio, but absurdly he was given two public warnings while his opponent received none in a messy fight. Would be expected to, at least, reach the podium in Tokyo.

KELLIE HARRINGTON (lightweight, pictured)

The Dubliner is the only Irish woman, apart from Katie Taylor, to claim a medal at the world championship, having won silver at lightwelterweight in 2016. She has moved down a division for next week’s worlds in India, and won bronze at this year’s European championship.

MICHAELA WALSH (featherweight)

Walsh has twice reached the final in the Commonwealth Games and took home a bronze from this year’s European championship. Qualifying for Tokyo may be harder than the games itself.

BRENDAN IRVINE (flyweight)

The Rio Olympian is out until the New Year after getting surgery on a troublesome wrist, but having won silver at the Commonwealths in April, the Belfast native is keen to build on that for Tokyo – if boxing is there.