A top class senior amateur boxing tournament returns to Galway following on from a fantastic display from Ireland's Olympic Boxing squad at the Bejing Olympic Games.

Olympic Boxing Club, Galway will play host to some of Ireland's top boxers tonight, Wednesday 24 September, at the Black Box on Dyke Road, with a scheduled 12 bouts of senior boxing between Irish champions at various weights.

The event will act as a fundraiser for the club, which has already turned out one Olympian in the past, Francis Barrett, who represented Ireland in the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Billed the 'Night Of The Champs', the event will see senior all-Ireland winning boxers from the Olympic Boxing Club take on other provincial and Irish senior champions from around the province, the country and abroad. In what should be a cracker of a night, all fights will feature at least one Irish champion in action against a top-quality opponent.

Top of the bill will be William Mc Donagh from Connemara B.C, who will face the reigning Munster champion from the St Francis club in Limerick, Anton Griffin, at heavyweight.

James Barrett from Olympic Galway will support the main bout in a cruiserweight fight against Kyle Holmes from the Geesala club in Mayo, both having won Irish titles in what should be a tightly contested bout. At Light heavyweight, Brian Barrett from Olympic will be taking on the highly rated Ulster champion, Danny Tourish.

At super middle weight, Olympic stable mate and four nations champion, Richard Barrett will take on the talented Ger Griffin from the St Francis Club in Limerick, former home of the now professional star Andy Lee, while former Irish International, Martin Barrett, who will be aiming for an Irish title later in the year, will be up against a tough challenge from last year's Irish Finalist and Munster Champion, Tom O' Donnell.

A number of other exciting bouts will make up the card, with the first fighters taking to the ring at 7pm.

Olympic Head Coach John Mongan hopes the event will raise the profile of the sport in the county, as well as raise much-needed funds for the club.

"It was fantastic to see how well our boxers did in the Olympics, given the small resources at their disposal.

"Hopefully we will see our own young boxers come through to represent the country again in four years time at the London Games.

"I would urge anybody interested in the future of the sport in the area to come along and support our night at the Black Box on 24 September, which will be a great night out besides anything else." Tickets for the event are available from the Town Hall Theatre on 091-569777, Sally Longs, Redlight Records, club members and on the door.

There will be live entertainment and a full bar. Tickets are priced at €20 for adults and €10 for juveniles.

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