Record set at national boxing championships by John Joe's talented 'Nevin Seventeen'

A unique record was set at the National Stadium in Dublin on Monday night when seventeen members of the same family - all of them related to Olympic boxer John Joe Nevin - turned out to box in the All-Ireland Boxing finals. Four Patrick Nevins, three Christopher Nevins, three Michael Nevins, two Hugh Nevins, as well as Gerard Nevin, Joe Nevin, Shane Nevin, Davy Nevin and Johnny Nevin were all lined up to fight at various weights and all bar three qualified to fight again this SaturdayRanging in age from 11 to 15, the youngsters - including John Joe Nevin's brother, Paddy - are from Mullingar, Longford, Mountmellick and Navan."I'm very proud of them," said John Joe. "This is a record in Ireland - and England - to have that many competing in the nationals, all related."The youngsters, most still only at school, train hard, sparring together when possible. A lot of the training is done in the gym at St. Michael's Park in Mullingar. John Joe modestly denies that he gives the youngsters advice: "I don't think these fellows need much advice from me!" he jokes, although he concedes that if he saw something that might benefit one of them, he would certainly point it out.The youngsters are affiliated to a number of different boxing clubs, and in fact, Christopher Nevin from St. Michael's Park travels four days a week to Drogheda to train."They will be thinking of the Nationals 'til they're 17 or 18, and if they're good enough, they'll be looking to win a senior title, and then, it's on maybe to the Olympics," says John Joe of the up and coming boxers.See profile of John Joe Nevin on page 19 of this week's Westmeath Examiner.