Paris 2024 just one fight away for Dean Clancy

Sean McDermott Boxing Club's Dean Clancy is just one successful fight away from achieving his dream of competing at the Olympic Games after the Sligo fighter came through a tough last 16 clash at the European Team Games in Poland.

Dean beat Azerbaijan's Malik Hasanov 3-2 in a tight contest that was scored 29-28, 29-28, 28-29, 28-29, 29-30 to give the Leitrim club fighter a 3-2 victory and a place in the last 16. Victory in that bout next Wednesday, June 28, will see Dean secure a place at next Summer's Olympic Games in Paris.

To do that, he will have to overcome Italy's Gianluigi Malanga in the last eight clash on Wednesday at 1.45 pm Irish time. The Italian beat Per Novak of the Czech Republic in the last 16 fight on Sunday 4-1, winning 30-27 on four judges' cards but losing 29-28 on the other. Malanga won his first round clash comprehensively on a 5-0 scoreline.

The winner of Wednesday's Quarter-Final will book their place in the Paris Olympics along with a guaranteed European bronze medal with the semi-finals on Friday, June 30, and the Final on Saturday, July 1.

In a post on Twitter, Dean wrote: "Second win secured out here in Poland Job not finished I’m boxing Wednesday in the 1/4 finals where I look to secure a medal and a ticket to Paris Olympics next summer."

Second win secured out here in Poland Job not finished I’m boxing Wednesday in the 1/4 finals where I look to secure a medal and a ticket to Paris Olympics next summer #teamireland #EG2023 #boxingireland pic.twitter.com/SuHD8rRoB4

— Dean_Clancy (@dean_clancy) June 25, 2023