BRETT MCGINTY IS THROUGH to the quarter-finals of the European Youth Championships in Russia.
The 17-year-old St Johnston man (pictured above with his coach, Eugene O’Kane junior) overcame Hungarian Laszlo Kozak in the round of 32 in Anapa this afternoon.
McGinty’s was a controlled performance against a wiry Hungarian, with the Oakleaf ABC welterweight in command from the first bell.
A powerful start by McGinty set the tone and there were moments when it felt as if McGinty could have waved the chequered flag before the finish line.
Until the final stanza, Kozak struggled to get by a tight guard by McGinty, a seven-time Irish champion and Commonwealth Youth Games silver medal winner.
[adrotate group=”57″]A rocking right hand by McGinty shook Kozak’s temple at the end of the first, followed by a sharp left as the fighters went to the stools with the Irish captain on top.
A blistering right hook from McGinty began the second round with a bang.
As that middle verse evolved, McGinty struck several telling blows to the body of the Hungarian.
Something resembling a good, old-fashioned scrap was on show in the third round, with McGinty already having the look of a fighter who knew his wrist would be hoisted at the end.
And so it proved.
[adrotate group=”38″]Two years ago, McGinty also defeated Kozak in his opening round at the European Youths before he lost out to Mladam Sobjeslavski in his next contest.
Tomorrow, McGinty goes for a bronze medal when he takes on Armenia’s Gurgen Madoyan, whom he defeated in the Schoolboy Championships four years ago.
