VIDEO: Boxers begin pursuit of Ulster title glory

All Saints duo Joel Scullion and Vinny Esler begin their quest tonight (Monday) as they compete in the quarter-finals of their respective weight divisions.

For former Ulster intermediate champion Scullion, it is his first tilt at the seniors after a hand injury just before last year’s championships prevented him from making his bow.

Victory for Scullion would set up an all-Ballymena semi-final showdown with reigning bantamweight champion Anthony O’Rawe, who carved his name in the annals of Braid Amateur Boxing Club history last year when he became the first boxer from the Ballykeel club to win an Ulster senior title.

O’Rawe has no intention of resting on his laurels, stating: “Winning the title last year was a great boost for me and it really spurred me on.”

O’Rawe will take on either Scullion or Gary McKenna (Old School) in Wednesday’s semi-finals, aiming for a place in Friday’s finals night.

One man already assured of his place on that Europa Hotel bill is All Saints’ Steven Donnelly, who will be bidding for his fifth Ulster senior title when he takes on Conor Doherty (Holy Trinity) in the welterweight final.

The winners of the various titles will also put themselves in contention for the Northern Ireland team for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow,