The World Boxing Championships are about to get underway in Kazakhstan.

Ireland will be taking nine fighters under head coach Billy Walsh's stewardship.

Olympic heroes Michael Conlan and Paddy Barnes and the likes of Joe Ward and Jason Quigley are among our contenders in action but it comes against the backdrop of many boxers seeking to leave the amateur ranks and swap it for professional contracts.

Last night Ken Egan described these Championships as "bigger than the Olympics" especially with developments which mean that pro boxers are no longer banned from the Olympics. Other changes see head guards fall by the wayside and a revised scoring system.

Egan covered these topics and the chances of our hopefuls on the show last night which you can listen to below.

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Pictured: Jason Quigley - 75kg Middleweight ©INPHO/James Crombie