Ireland's Olympic boxers took part in their final Dublin event on Friday night in the National Stadium.
While the eight-strong team rightly lapped up the applause from the home crowd, Ray Moylette was training in Venezuela hoping to grab the last spot on the team.
The Mayo boxer is fighting in the 64kg Light-Welterweight event at the APB and WSB Olympic Qualifier knowing two wins will book his place in Rio de Janeiro next month.
Arrived to a heroes welcome in Venezuela. I guess armed support escort is standard procedure here #Olympicqualifier pic.twitter.com/f9dyEtFzlI
— Ray Moylette (@raymoylette) June 30, 2016
Moylette was due to fight Dean Walsh last month with a hope of reaching the World Olympic Qualifier last month, but the box-off was postponed by the Irish High Performance Unit. Both men travelled to Azerbaijan where Walsh was picked in a pre-tournament training camp. The Wexford native failed to qualify, which reopened the door to Moylette.
Due to competing on the AIBA Pro Boxing circuit earlier this year, Moylette qualified for the competition taking place this weekend in South America. He faces Armenia's Hovhannes Bachkov on Monday evening knowing a win, will leave him nine minutes away from a trip to Brazil.
APB/WSB Olympic Qualification Event
Official Draw - 64 kg#RoadToRio pic.twitter.com/4xiHJ5dAFF— AIBA (@AIBA_Boxing) July 2, 2016
If Moylette were to qualify, Ireland would have one of the biggest teams in Brazil, with nine fighters out of a maximum of 13 competing next month.
