Donnelly faces biggest fight of career

STEVEN Donnelly is preparing for the biggest test of his boxing career next week - with a Commonwealth Games place at stake.

The Ballymena boxer must win the light-welterweight (64kg) category at the Commonwealth Games box-offs to be held in the Donegal Celtic Social Club next week.

The weigh-in for the make-or-break championships in this Sunday, with action commencing on the Monday.

The box-offs, which will decide the composition of the Northern Ireland team for the Games in Delhi in October, have not been popular within Ulster boxing circles.

"The feeling among many observers is that the backbone of the team should have been decided after the Ulster Senior Championships, with the champions forming the team and maybe another back-up team from that.

"Instead, it will be like the Ulster Seniors all over again because it's an open competition where the winner will maybe have to come through three or four contests.

"It's not ideal preparation for the boxers to have to come back in and take part in a contest where, if they are not 100 per cent have an off-night, their Commonwealth Games dream is over.

"It has also been an inconvenience to some of the boxers - Steven had a holiday booked which he has had to cancel but he sees the bigger prize as being a place at the Commonwealth Games.

"The good news is that we have known for some time about these box-offs and Steven had a couple of weeks' rest and he is now back in full training.

"His weight is 100 per cent at this stage and he has been training hard and sparring with the likes of TJ Hamill.

"He has been troubled with a hand injury since he came back from representative duty in Canada in May.

"He came back and boxed an exhibition bout at our own club show but he effectively boxed one-handed, simply because he didn't want to let down people who had come to see him in action.

"One of the big concerns among people in Ulster boxing circles is that the boxers, like any athletes, need to be hitting their peak in time for the Games rather than before it, but those concerns can wait because all the boxers, Steven include, are concentrating on is making sure they win their category in order to secure their selection," added Gerry.