
Kieran Molloy (red)
Kieran Molloy claimed gold at the Pavlyukov Youth Memorial in Anapa, Russia today after completely outclassing Cuban light-welter Damien Sifonte-Lescay.
The Oughterard BC ace, a World Junior bronze medallist, nailed a 30-27 decision across the board from all three judges at the tournament known as the “Mini World Championships.”
Today’s win completes a hat-trick for Irish boxing as Willie Donoghue and Brendan Irvine won Pavlyukov Memorial gold in 2015 and 2014.
Ireland, courtesy of Molloy and European Youth champion Michael Nevin, will be bringing home gold and bronze from the 2016 edition of the tournament.
Amhran na bhFiann has received many an airing at the Black Sea holiday resort in international competition in recent years, and Irish team manager Gerry O’Mahony was thrilled to hear the Irish national anthem again today.
“Kieran was absolutely fantastic, a brilliant performance for the entire three rounds. It’s wonderful the hear Amhran na bhFiann and we’re thrilled with the win. They’ll be celebrating at the Oughterard club,” he said.
Irish coach Billy McClean said: “”Kieran was outstanding, absolutely outstanding. He wanted it so badly and worked so hard for it and throughout the tournament here this week, We can’t praise him highly enough for today’s performance.”
McClean also hailed the contribution of fellow Irish coach Fergal McKenna.
He added: “Fergal has worked tremendously hard in our training camp here and in the tournament itself and deserves enormous praise.”
The Boys in Green have been in training camp and competition with the top boxing nations in world in Anapa for 11 days. International Youth boxing is building up toward the World Youth Championships in St Petersburg, Russia in November.
Team Ireland are due to arrive home via Dublin Airport at 9.10pm tomorrow evening (Terminal 2).
Pavlyukov Youth Memorial Anapa, Russia March 11/16
March 12th
Preliminaries (last 16)
52kg Shane Flavin (Ireland) lost to Ruslan Sinicyn (Russia) 1-2
64kg Kieran Molloy (Ireland) beat Tyler Jolly (Scotland) 2-1
56kg Aaron McKenna (Ireland) beat William Stuart (Scotland) 2-1
56kg James McGivern (Ireland) beat Mamapali Nursuit (Kyrgyzstan) 3-0
60kg Paddy Donovan (Ireland) beat Hamraous Loures (France) 3-0
69kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) beat Aybek Akylkbekuulu (Kyrgyzstan) 3-0
75kg Kevin Kehoe (Ireland) beat Jack Gipp (Australia) 3-0
March 13th
Q/Finals
56kg Aaron McKenna (Ireland) lost to Denis Darilov (Russia) 1-2
56kg James McGivern (Ireland) lost to Sanatali Taltaev (Kazakhstan) 0-3
60kg Paddy Donovan (Ireland) lost to Artem Butaev (Russia) 1-2
64kg Kieran Molloy (Ireland) beat Dmitry Zubko (Russia) 3-0
69kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) beat Vladimir Tolozyam (Russia) 3-0
75kg Kevin Kehoe (Ireland) lost to Lenar Perez-Fransua (Cuba) 0-3
81kg Brian Kennedy (Ireland) lost to Sergey Murashey (Russia) 1-2
March 14th
S/finals
64kg Kieran Molloy (Ireland) beat Danis Gabdrafikov (Russia) 2-1
69kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) lost to Oleg Matveychuk (Kazakhstan) 0-3
March 15th
Final
64kg Kieran Molloy (Ireland) beat Damien Sifonte-Lescay (Cuba) 3-0
Irish squad
52kg Shane Flavin (Paulstown)
56kg Aaron McKenna (Old School)
56kg James McGivern (St Georges)
60kg Paddy Donovan (OLOL)
64kg Kieran Molloy (Oughterard) (Gold)
69kg Michael Nevin (Portlaoise) (Bronze)
75kg Kevin Keogh (Marble City)
81kg Brian Kennedy (St Marys D)
Team manager: Gerry O’Mahony
Coaches: Billy McClean & Fergal McKenna
Physio Orla O’Rourke
R&J: Larry Durand