OLYMPIC silver medallist John Joe Nevin faces a difficult start to his professional boxing career tonight when he takes on Puerto Rican featherweight Alberto Candelaria in Boston.
Hopes are high that the the 24-year-old Mulingar native can go on to star as a professional having caught the eye of many pundits and fans during his amateur days.
Alongside his medal in London in 2012, he won two bronze medals at the World Championships, plus two gold medals and a silver in the highly competitive European Championships.
Candelaria has a record of three wins and one defeat heading into the six-round contest at the sold out House of Blues venue.
Dublin’s Jamie Kavanagh, a world youth silver medallist for Ireland as an amateur, also faces a Puerto Rican opponent in Andreas Navarro.
Nevin’s debut fight can be watched live on Box Nation from 3am.
