HARRINGTON JOINS WALSH IN EUROPEAN SEMI-FINALS

IABA News

Kellie Harrington guaranteed Ireland at least a second bronze at the European Women’s Elite Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria today.

The Dublin lightweight beat Iulia Tsyplakova to join Michaela Walsh in Monday’s semi-finals.

Harrington earned a 4-1 split decision over the Ukrainian this afternoon.

She’ll now meet Finland’s Mira Potkonen, who beat Katie Taylor at the Rio Olympics, in the last-four on Monday.

The Finn, beaten five times by Taylor before the Rio shock, saw off Poland’s Aneta Rygielska in today’s corresponding 60kg semi-final.

Walsh is in against Russia’s Daria Abramova in the 57kg semi-final on Monday.

A two-time Commonwealth finalist and the current European Union feather champion, the Belfast feather has won three fights in Sofia this week.

Today’s win was Harrington’s second in two days in the Bulgaria capital.

Sunday is a rest day at the 11th edition of the Women’s European Elites. The semi-finals and finals will be decided on Monday and Tuesday.

European Women’s Elite Championships Sofia, Bulgaria

June 5

Last 32

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Karriss Artingstal (England) 5-0

June 6

Last 16

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Alessia Mesiano (Italy) 5-0

June 7

Last 16

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Katerina Humlova (Czech Republic) 5-0

69kg Grainne Walsh (Ireland) lost to Iaroslava Iakushina (Russia) 0-5

June 8

Q/Final

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Helina Bruyevich (Belarus) 3-2

June 9

Q/Final

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Iulia Tsyplakova (Ukraine) 4-1

June 11

S/Final

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) v Daria Abramova (Russia)
60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) v Mira Potkonen (Finland)

Irish squad

57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown) (Bronze, at least)
60kg Kellie Harrington (St Mary’s) (Bronze, at least)
69kg Grainne Walsh (Sparticus)

Team Manager: Bernard Dunne
Head Coach: Zaur Antia
Coach: Dmitry Dmitruk
Physio: Muireann Harte
R&J: Sadie Duffy

WALSH GUARANTEED AT LEAST BRONZE AT EUROPEANS

IABA News

 

Michaela Walsh,pictured, guaranteed Ireland at least one bronze medal at the European Elite Women’s Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria today.

The Irish feather beat Helina Bruyevich, her second victory over the tough Belarusian, on a split decision after a tight 57kg quarter-final.

Today’s win was Walsh third in four days in a week in which she stunned Italy’s current World Elite champion Alessia Mesiano.

Bernard Dunne, IABA High Performance Director and Irish team manager in Sofia, hailed Walsh’s performances as phenomenal in the Bulgarian capital this week.

The Belfast-born EU champion and two-time commonwealth finalist meets Russia’s Daria Amramova, the defending European champion, in Monday’s semi-finals for a place in Tuesday’s gold medal match.

Dublin lightweight Kellie Harrington is in action tomorrow in the last-eight of the tournament versus the Ukraine in the 6th bout on the 1st session which begins at 12 noon (Irish time).

Head coach Zaur Antia and coach Dmitry Dimitruk are working Ireland’s corner in Sofia.

Meantime, Irish female boxing has now won nine medals at this level since the inaugural tournament in France in 2001.

Katie Taylor (six gold), Clare Grace (bronze), Christina Desmond (bronze) and Walsh (at least bronze) have finished in podium positions.

Irish amateur boxing is proudly sponsored by Liffey Crane.

 

European Women’s Elite Championships Sofia, Bulgaria

June 5

Last 32

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Karriss Artingstal (England) 5-0

June 6

Last 16

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Alessia Mesiano (Italy) 5-0

June 7

Last 16

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Katerina Humlova (Czech Republic) 5-0

69kg Grainne Walsh (Ireland) lost to Iaroslava Iakushina (Russia) 0-5

June 8

Q/Final

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Helina Bruyevich (Belarus) 3-2

June 9

Q/Final

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) v Iulia Tsyplakova (Ukraine)

June 11

S/Final

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) v Daria Abramova (Russia

Irish squad

57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown) (Bronze, at least)
60kg Kellie Harrington (St Mary’s)
69kg Grainne Walsh (Sparticus)

Team Manager: Bernard Dunne
Head Coach: Zaur Antia
Coach: Dmitry Dmitruk
Physio: Muireann Harte
R&J: Sadie Duffy

AIBA INCREASES QUOTAS FOR AUGUST’S WORLD YOUTHS

IABA News

 

The International Boxing Association (AIBA) has increased its quotas for the 2018 World Men’s and Women’s Youth Championships, according to a notice on its website.

“The decision was made to accommodate the increasing interest expressed by the National Federations to take part of the Championships with the aim of developing the young generation of boxers,” AIBA explained.

The World Youths begin in Budapest, Hungary on August 20.

The original quota for men was 244 but is now 300 and the quota for women increases from 174 to 200.

Europe (men) – increase from 70 to 86 with additional 16 quotas.

Europe (women)  – increase from 52 to 60 with additional 8 quotas.

Please click here for additional information.

EUROPEAN WOMEN’S C’SHIPS QUARTER-FINALS

IABA News

Michaela Walsh (blue) in action today

 

Michaela Walsh is back between the ropes for her third bout in four days at the European Elite Women’s Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria today.

The current European Union featherweight champion meets Helina Bruyevich of Belarus around 5pm (Irish time) this afternoon with at least a bronze medal up for grabs at the 11th edition of the tournament since 2001.

The Belfast-native, who beat Bruyevich in 2014, has won has already won two fights in Sofia this week, including a unanimous decision over Italy’s World Elite champion Alessia Mesiano.

Bernard Dunne, IABA High-Performance Director and the Irish team manager in Sofia, hailed the win.

Dublin lightweight Kellie Harrington cruised past Katerina Humlova of the Czech Republic yesterday and is in action in Saturday’s quarter-finals. Offaly welter Grainne Walsh bowed out to Russian southpaw Iaroslava Iakushina in the last 16 on Thursday.

Michaela Walsh and Harrington have both qualified for the 2019 European Games in Belraus by virtue of reaching the last-eight in Sofia as the top ten in their weights qualify.

Katie Taylor (six gold), Grace (bronze) and Desmond (bronze) have won Ireland’s medals at the European Elite Women’s Championships since in inaugural tournament in France in 2001.

Click here for today’s live stream.

The remaining quarter-finals will be decided tomorrow. The semi-finals and finals are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.

 

European Women’s Elite Championships Sofia, Bulgaria

June 5

Last 32

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Karriss Artingstal (England) 5-0

June 6

Last 16

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Alessia Mesiano (Italy) 5-0

June 7

Last 16

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Katerina Humlova (Czech Republic) 5-0

69kg Grainne Walsh (Ireland) lost to Iaroslava Iakushina (Russia) 0-5

June 8

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) v Helina Bruyevich (Belarus)

June 9

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) v Iulia Tsyplakova (Ukraine)

Irish squad

57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown)
60kg Kellie Harrington (St Mary’s)
69kg Grainne Walsh (Sparticus)

Team Manager: Bernard Dunne
Head Coach: Zaur Antia
Coach: Dmitry Dmitruk
Physio: Muireann Harte
R&J: Sadie Duffy

MIXED FORTUNES IN EUROPEAN ELITES

IABA News

Kellie Harrington

 

 

Kellie Harrington, pictured, is within striking distance of the medals at the 11th European Elite Women’s Championships in Bulgaria.

But Grainne Walsh bowed out of the tournament early this evening.

Harrington beat Czech Republic lightweight Katerina Humlova this afternoon to book her ticket in Saturday’s quarter-finals in Sofia.

Harrington and Humlova eventually crossed swords after a delay because of a power cut in the Asics Arena venue.

The Dublin southpaw convincingly won on a unanimous decision to join Michaela Walsh, who is between the ropes tomorrow, in the weekend’s deciders.

Both Irish fighters are within one win of at least bronze and have qualified for the 2019 European Games in Belarus by virtue by making the last-eight.

Grainne Walsh was beaten on a unanimous decision by Russian southpaw Iaroslava Iakushina in the welter class.

Walsh, taking the fight to her opponent at every opportunity, found the target with solid hooks, particularly in the latter rounds, but the Moscovite’s slick counter punching was impressive in all three frames.

Michaela Walsh meets Helina Bruyevich of Belarus, an opponent she beat in 2014, for at least bronze in Friday’s quarter-finals.

European Women’s Elite Championships Sofia, Bulgaria

June 5

Last 32

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Karriss Artingstal (England) 5-0

June 6

Last 16

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Alessia Mesiano (Italy) 5-0

June 7

Last 16

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Katerina Humlova (Czech Republic) 5-0

69kg Grainne Walsh (Ireland) lost to Iaroslava Iakushina (Russia) 0-5

June 8

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) v Helina Bruyevich (Belarus)

June 9

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) v Iulia Tsyplakova (Ukraine)

Irish squad

57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown)
60kg Kellie Harrington (St Mary’s)
69kg Grainne Walsh (Sparticus)

Team Manager: Bernard Dunne
Head Coach: Zaur Antia
Coach: Dmitry Dmitruk
Physio: Muireann Harte
R&J: Sadie Duffy