Dead cousin inspires Irish boxer to medal

After victory in his Olympic quarter-final, John Joe Nevin ensured at least a boxing bronze medal for Ireland and then revealed he was inspired by his dead cousin.

With semi-finalists guaranteed at least a bronze, Nevin, 23, booked his place in the last four of the bantamweight competition with a 19-13 victory over Mexico's Oscar Valdez.

He said his inspiration in London is his cousin David who died of a heart attack only six months ago.

"I was thinking of my cousin David, he passed away in February and he was only 25," said Nevin, who faces world champion Lazaro Alvarez of Cuba in Friday's semi-final.

"He was meant to be here, I would like to thank him. As I said at his funeral, hopefully he was here with me, I know he
was there.

"He told me, 'you are the best in the world, it was him that inspired me to box."