Team Ireland claimed three wins on day four of the 2024 World Youth Championships in Budva.
This tournament is the pinnacle of competition for boxers of this age group. 660 boxers from 88 national federations will represent their countries at the championship, which is being hosted by the Montenegro Boxing Federation from October 20th to November 6th. November 1st will be a rest day at the tournament, and all finals will be boxed on November 2nd and 3rd. The competition schedule is available here
World Junior Champion, 63kg Siofra Lawless opened her account at the tournament, taking on Morocco’s Safae Zoubaa. Siofra was characteristically dominant from the off, and the bout ended in a Round 2 RSC for the Wicklow boxer. That was a Last 16 contest, and Siofra is now through to the Quarter Finals, which she’ll meet Uzbekistan’s Odinakhon Ismoilova – who also won her contest today by RSC2.
60kg Martin McDonagh, made his debut at Last 32 stage, against China’s Yuheng Wang. Martin blitz his opponent on numerous occasions throughout the bout, which culminated in a unanimous decision win for him. Judges scored the bout 28:29; 28:29; 28:29; 27:30; 28:29. Martin boxes his Last 16 bout on Monday, against Russia’ Platon Kozlov.
57kg Jamie Graham opened his account on the World stage at Last 32 stage, against Mexico’s H. Mendoza Carbajal. Jamie was the 5-0 victor, and wins through to the Last 16, where he’ll meet either Korea or Kosovo.
This is a biannual tournament and was last contested by Ireland in La Nucia, Spain, in November 2022. Ireland returned with 6 medals: Gold for 81kg Cliona D’Arcy and light heavy, Team Co-Captain Dearbhla Tinnelly, Lightweight Lee McEvoy, light middle Laura Moran and Team Co-Captain, welter Jim Donovan all came home with bronze medals.
71kg Tadhg O’Donnell returned for his second bout of the tournament, taking on Colombia’s Juan Pablo Franco.. This was a high octane contest, in which Tadgh forced a first round standing count. Boxers were level going in to the third, and ultimately, the 4-1 decision went to the Colombian athlete. Judges scored the bout 29:27; 28:29; 28:29; 28:29; 28:29. 60kg Kayleigh Whelan, who had a bye, began her tournament today against China’s Yuting Wu, and it ended in the second round with an RSC for the Chinese athlete.
All draw sheets, results and tournament schedules are available here
Day Five
One Team Ireland boxer is between the ropes on the 5th day of the tournament.
63.5kg Ryan Jenkins boxes his Last 16 contest in Bout 10 of Ring B’s Afternoon Session. Ryan meets Abdullah Rahal of Israel
Watch
Boxing in the Morning Session begins at 10am; the Afternoon session at 2.30pm and the Evening Session at 5pm.
Ring A
Ring B
Team Ireland
60kg Kayleigh Whelan, Avona BC, Dublin
63kg Siofra Lawless, Four Kings BC, Wicklow
66kg Kyla Doyle Byrne, Whitechurch BC Dublin
57kg Jamie Graham, Clonard BC, Belfast
60kg Martin McDonagh, Avona BC, Dublin
63.5kg Ryan Jenkins, Olympic BC Mullingar
71kg Tadhg O’Donnell, Four Kings BC, Wicklow
92+kg Adam Olaniyan, Jobstown BC, Dublin
Team Manager: Anna Moore
Coach Liam Cunningham
Coach Garry Kehoe
Coach Ralph McKay