THE FIRST home boxing international contest of the season takes place at the National Stadium tonight with a seven-bout match against Italy. As most of the Irish champions will not be on duty, the Irish will field something of a second-string team. However, two reigning champions, Eugene McEneaney from Dundalk and John Kiely from Limerick, will be in action.

The match has been cut to seven bouts because a number of Italians dropped out at very short notice because of injury and illness. The Italian side also contains only one reigning champion, Ciro Di Corcia at light welter. He will be meeting Patrick Walsh from St Colman's in Cork.

McEneaney, who recently won the Irish lightweight title meets Angelo Letizia who has had 40 contests, losing only three times. The other Irish champion, Kiely at heavyweight, meets Giaochino Mocerino.

The Drogheda boxer Damien McKenna will meet Giuseppi Bergantino at bantamweight. Willie Valentine from the St Saviour's club in Dublin meets, Malaro Carmine at bantam and Aodh Carlyle from Sacred Heart meets Pasquale Caoine. Boxing starts at 7.30.