3 from 3: Walsh, McDonagh & Walsh claim wins at Olympic Qualifier.

Ireland claimed 3 wins from 3, and the 10 win in 10 bouts, at the 2nd Olympic World Qualifier in Bangkok today.

579 boxers from 133 countries are contesting the tournament. As with the 1st Olympic World Qualifier in March, boxers will contest to quota; meaning, they will cease to box at a qualification bout. There will be no semi-finals or finals, and no medals bestowed. In5 of the weights Ireland is contesting in Bangkok (50kg, 54kg, 66kg, 51kg and 92+kg), 4 Paris quota places are available. In Men’s 71kg, 5 quota places are available, and there are 3 in Men’s 80kg – which means the de-facto bronze medalists will box off for the final quota place in that weight.

92+kg Martin McDonagh was the first in action today, and make his tournament debut at the Round of 32 stage against Vietnam’s Doan Minh Hieu Ngoc. The bout was short, and decisive. Martin prompted 3 standing counts in the first round, and the contest was stopped. He is two wins away from Paris qualification. Martin is in action in his Last 16 bout against Peter Rumeno Belberov in Saturday’s Afternoon session.

 66kg Grainne Walsh returned for her second bout of the tournament, 6 days after her debut victory on Friday. She contested against Korea’s Hyo Sun Hwang in a tough, physical match. The 5-0 decision went to Grainne, on a score card of 30:27; 30:27; 30:27; 29:28; 29:28. Grainne will take on Cote d’Ivoire’s Sedja Sanogo in the Last 16 bout in Friday’s evening session. She is two wins from booking her ticket to Paris.

71kg Aidan Walsh boxed his 3rd bout in four days this afternoon, against 2021 World Champion, Ukraine’s Yuri Zakharieiev. This was a hotly contested bout, with 2 points deductions for each boxer, beginning in the first round for Zakharieiev. The bout was a tight one and ended in a 3-2 split in favour of the Tokyo bronze medalist. Judges scored bout 27:26; 26:27; 27:26; 27:26; 25:28. Aidan boxes his Last 8 bout, and his first chance at qualification in this tournament, on Friday against Zeyad Eashash of Jordan. As there are five quota places up for grabs in Aidan’s weight, should Friday’s decision not go in his favour, an effective box-for-bronze bout will take place on Saturday.

Coaches (l-r) Lynne McEnery, Damian Kennedy and James Doyle in Aidan Walsh’s corner during today’s bout. Photo: Tara Robins Mari.

Day Seven

Two Ireland boxers are in last 16 action on Thursday.

80kg Kelyn Cassidy is first between the ropes, at around 8.15am, Irish time. He contests his 3rd bout of the tournament against Spain’s Gazimagomed Schami Jalidov Gafurova – that’s Bout 6 of Ring A’s Afternoon Session.

51kg Sean Mari will box out of the blue corner when he contests against Malaysia’s Ariffin Muhammad Abdul Qaiyum in Bout 13 of Ring A’s Evening Session.

Programme

Watch

Live-streaming of the tournament begins on Thursday, hosted here

Team

The maximum team size any federation may qualify for an Olympic Games is 13. Six Team Ireland boxers have already qualified: reigning Olympic lightweight champ, Kellie Harrington, and now double Olympians 57kg Michaela Walsh and Aoife O’Rourke. 57kg Jude Gallagher booked his ticket to Paris at the 1st Olympic World Qualifier. 63.5kg Dean Clancy and heavyweight, Jack Marley, qualified at the 2023 European Games.

50kg Daina Moorehouse, Enniskerry BC, Co. Wicklow

54kg Jennifer Lehane, DCU Boxing Club, Dublin

66kg Grainne Walsh, St. Mary’s BC, Tallaght, Dublin

51kg Sean Mari, Monkstown BC, Dublin

71kg Aidan Walsh, Holy Family Golden Gloves BC, Belfast

80kg Kelyn Cassidy, Saviour’s Crystal, Waterford.

92+kg Martin McDonagh, Galway Boxing Club.

Draws are available here