4 from 4 for Ireland at the Olympic Qualifiers - Irish Athletic Boxing Association

Images: Tara Robins Mari

66kg Grainne Walsh, who got a bye from the Round of 64, was first up on Friday, and made her tournament debut. She contested against Germany’s Stefanie Von Berge Von Berge contested the European Games in Nowy Targ and most recently contested the European U22 Championships to quarter finals. Grainne progresses following a hard won 3-2 split decision win. Judges scored the bout 29:28; 28:29; 28:29; 29:28; 27: 30.

80kg Kelyn Cassidy was between the ropes in the morning session, for his second bout of the tournament. He met Guatamala’s Wyatt Trujillo and made lightning quick work of the bout – it was all over 1 minute and 26 seconds in to the first round, with a KO for Kelyn.

Just one Irish boxer in action in the Afternoon Session. 50kg Daina Moorehouse, fresh from Round of 64 victory over a World silver medalist, opened proceedings in Ring B against Venezuela’s Tayonis Cedeno. This was another close bout, with Daina winning on the narrowest of margins. The final score cards read: 29:28; 29:28; 27:30; 27:30, 27:30.

Jude Gallagher, contesting at 57kg, had a long wait for his bout. He was up in the last bout of the evening session, at around 9.30pm. He contested his Round of 32 bout against India’s Uddin Hussam Mohammed, a world bronze medalist. Jude won all three rounds, but a point was deducted from the Indian boxer in the second round, giving a final result of 4-0. The judges scorecards read: 30:26; 29:27; 30:26; 28:28; 30:26

602 boxers from 113 countries have registered to contest the tournament – making it the third largest boxing tournament in history. As a result, the beginning of boxing has been brought forward by a day, to March 3rd. Three sessions of boxing will take place March 4th to 8th to accommodate the volume of competition required.

49 quota places are available. In all weights Ireland is contesting at the tournament, a last four finish will qualify for Paris. The Paris Boxing Taskforce, which is running the competition on behalf of the International Olympic Committee, has advised that boxers will box to quota – which means boxers will cease competing at the Quarter Finals stage where last 4 qualify.

Day Seven – March 9th

Two boxers are in Round of 16 action on Saturday.

92+kg Martin McDonagh meets Belarussian born Bahrain boxer, and Olympian, Danis Latypov. Ring A, Afternoon Session – bout 12. He will be in the ring at approximately 2.30pm.

Grainne Walsh has a quick turnaround form her opening bout – she is back in action just over 24 hours later, against Kenyan Anyango Friza Asiko. That’s Bout 3 of Ring B’s evening session. Grainne will be between the ropes at around 6.45pm, Irish time.