The 2018 USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour presented by USA Boxing is coming to downtown Springfield.  Two of the world’s top amateur boxing teams will come together to battle in friendly duals. The American delegation will be led by Head Coach Billy Walsh (Colorado Springs, CO), who represented Ireland at the 1988 Olympics before becoming the head of the Irish boxing program for over 10 years. Headlining Team USA's roster will be 2017 World Championship bronze medalist Troy Isley (Alexandria, VA) and include a number of up-and-comers such as 2016 Youth World Champion Marc Castro (Fresno, CA), who is making his highly anticipated international elite debut this year.

As part of the exciting night of boxing action, guests will also revel at the sounds of Springfield’s hometown AC/DC tribute band BACK IN BLACK, performing their “True AC/DC Experience” show at the beginning and during halftime of the evening’s fight card. BACK IN BLACK has been touring the United States since 1990 and entertaining audiences across the country with their accurate replication of AC/DC’s music old and new.  The band’s unlimited set list includes a variety of A-side and B-side tracks such as “You Shook Me All Night Long,” “Back In Black,” “It’s A Long Way To The Top,” and “Down Payment Blues.” 

Also adding to the entertainment, the Aqua String Band from Philly will be partnering with the Caledonian Pipe Band to present their famous 'mummers march'.

Among the American's competing in the 2018 USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour are 2016 Youth World Champion and 2017 Elite Continental Championships silver medalist, Delante Johnson (Cleveland, OH), 2017 USA Boxing Heavyweight National Champion Jared Anderson (Toledo, OH) and 2016 Youth World Championship bronze medalist and 2017 USA Boxing Super Heavyweight National Champion, Richard Torrez (Tulare, CA). 

 

USA Boxing Roster - **All rosters are subject to change**

Springfield

56 kg: Marc Castro, Fresno, Calif., 18

60 kg: Keyshawn Davis, Norfolk, Va., 19

64 kg: Amelia Moore, Alexandria, Va., 28

64 kg: Charlie Sheehy, Brisbane, Calif., 19

64 kg: Delante Johnson, Cleveland, Ohio, 19

69 kg: Oshae Jones, Toledo, Ohio,

69 kg: Quinton Randall, Humble, Texas, 27

75 kg: Nikita Ababiy, Brooklyn, N.Y., 19

75 kg: Troy Isley, Alexandria, Va., 19

81 kg: Khalil Coe, Jersey City, N.J., 21

91 kg: Adrian Tillman, Colorado Springs, Colo., 22

The Irish team, which will be under the guidance of former world champion and High Performance Director, Bernard Dunne.

Ireland’s Boxing Roster

54 kg: Lauren Hogan, Offaly, 21

56 kg: Evan Metcalfe, Dublin, 28

60 kg: George Bates, Dublin, 23

60 kg: Francis Cleary, Mayo, 19

60 kg: Kellie Harrington, Dublin, 28

64 kg: Paddy Donovan, Limerick, 19

64 kg: Caoimhin Ferguson, Antrim, 21

64 kg: Wayne Kelly, Laois, 21

69 kgL Eugene McKeever, Drogheda, 21

69 kg: Kieran Molloy, Galway, 21

69 kg: Grain Walsh, Offaly, 22

75 kg: Aoife Burke, Dublin, 20

75 kg: Brett McGinty, Derry, 19

75 kg: Gerard French, Antrim, 20

75 kg: Michael Nevin, Laois, 19

81 kg: Caoimhin Hynes, Antrim, 20

91 kg: Kiril Afanasev, Dublin, 26

91+ kg: Dean Gardiner, Tipperary, 27