Gary Cully making boxing waves

ST DAVID’S Boxing Club’s Gary Cully was part of an Ireland team that beat host nation Russia in Veles Cup Round Robin in Oblast last week. The 16-year-old Naas boxer, a 2012 national finalist, also scooped the ‘ Will to Win and Endeavour award’ at the tournament, writes Ruth Chambers.

The tournament included teams from the USA, Germany, Ireland, and two from Russia and competition was fierce. The Americans sent their Junior Olympic team, the German number one also competed, while the Russian had national champions and European schoolboy champions among their ranks.

Ireland beat the Russian number two team 6-5, they drew 6-6 with the USA, beat Germany 9-2 and lost to the Russian national team. In the run up to the competition the Ireland team, coached by Belfast man Billy McClean and Drimnagh’s Tony Davitt, spent two weeks in Russia for a training camp.

“The first day went well for me. I boxed the USA first and won 12-11. On the second day the Russian beat me 12-11 but that decision was over turned the next day. I bet the German the third day and on the last day I lost,” Cully told the Leinster Leader this week.

Cully, from Sarto Road, is fast becoming one of the country’s up and coming boxers in the 52kg category and making waves within IABA circles. He began back eight years ago with the St David’s club and hasn’t looked back since.