BRACKEN Boxing Club have been dealt a double blow ahead of Friday night's eagerly awaited showdown with the Welsh Western Division, with the news that Irish champions Rob Gorman and Gerard Whitehouse will miss the Milestone Inn spectacle.

Whitehouse hasn't recovered from a hand injury sustained in his bronze medalwinning performance at the European Championships in Russia last year, while Gorman suffered a hairline fracture of his wrist while training for a high-profile clash in Sheffield last week.

The reigning Irish intermediate champion will now miss next month's Irish Championships and Friday's clash with Western Division, but even without their two star men, Bracken coach Kieran O'Neill is confident the Balbriggan club can hold their own against the Welsh outfit.

'The show must go on,' he said this week. 'I'm sorry for the two lads and we're down two Irish champions, but we have plenty of strength in depth and there'll be a few smashing fights.

'I don't think anyone who comes along will be disappointed by the quality of boxing.'

In the current economic climate, Bracken are relieved to be able to the stage the 16-bout contest at all and are extremely grateful to local businessman Anthony McCormack for some much-needed sponsorship.

'Anthony has come to our rescue,' Kieran revealed. 'He owns McCormack's pub in Balscadden and as long as we have people like that, we'll hopefully keep the show on the road.

'We'll have plenty of national-level fighters on show on Friday and the Welsh will bring quite a few too.' The 16-bout showdown starts at 8pm in the Milestone Inn.

- John SAVAGE