BRETT McGinty will look to upgrade the colour of his medal tomorrow in Samoa.
The St Johnston man has secured, at the very least, a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games and can guarantee a silver when he meets Australian Jack Gipp in a 69kgs semi-final.
McGinty defeated New Zealand’s Ryan Scaife 3-0 in his quarter-final to book a spot on the podium.
Now, he meets Gipp, a 16-year-old who trains at Peninsula Boxing in Mornington under Marcos Amado.
Gipp had a majority decision (2-1) win over Samoan Alema Aukuso Leleisiuao in his quarter-final.
Picture caption: Brett McGinty’s hand is raised aloft after his win over Ryan Scaife.
McGinty, who boxes out of the Oakleaf ABC in Derry’s Brandywell, had been unwell leading up to his bout, but he did the necessary with an impressive performance.
“It was a very tough fight,” he told Donegal Sport Hub from Samoa.
“We were just toe-to-toe for the whole three rounds.”
McGinty was a bronze medalist three years ago at the European Schoolboys Championships and the six-times Irish champion has a silver in his sights as he meets Gipp.
He said: “If I perform to my best, I know I can beat him – so hopefully I can do that now.”
All five Northern Ireland boxers – McGinty is Derry-born, so qualifies for these games – have semi-final action tomorrow.
With Stephen McKenna, James McGivern, Tiernan Bradley and Aidan Walsh all winning before him, McGinty – who had been at the centre of a selection controversy before he left – was under pressure.
But the Deele College student delivered in spades.
“What a performance under all that pressure – we are so proud of him,” said Eugene O’Kane senior from the Oakleaf ABC.
Now, as he takes to the Tuana’Imato Sports Facility canvas, McGinty aims for a change of the colour that will be hung around his neck.
The session begins at 6pm Samoan time – 6am Irish time.
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