Irish Elite champion Kurt Walker claimed gold at the multi-nations tournament in Russia today.

But TJ Waite and Gary McKenna had to settle for silver despite big performances in Rostov.

Walker finish on top of the 56kg podium on a unanimous decision over Nickolay Shakh of Belarus, but Waite and McKenna were edged out on split decisions by Cingiz Natirov of Russia and Demirty Sapon of Belarus.

Steven Ward had to withdraw from today’s finals, which featured four members of the Ulster team, after picking up a cut in the semi-finals.

“TJ lost on a split decision to a top boy. TJ boxed and moved brilliant but judges favoured the Russian, said coach John Conlan.

“Kurt won gold with a classy performance, catching his opponent with big shots. Great skill and movement and clean shots impressed the packed and appreciative crowd.

“Gary McKenna lost a wafer thin split to a tricky Belarusian southpaw. We lost the first by mixing with him, but a brilliant second round in middle distance and a very vclose last round. We thought he did enough.

“Steven Ward had to settle for silver because of the cut in the semis.

“At 64kg and 75kg, both guys won gold who beat Aiden and Conor. Very good competition and great for developing our guys. All the lads were brilliant.”

John Conlan and Fergal McKenna were working the Ulster corner in Rostov. Martin Walsh was team manager.

The Ulster squad are due to arrive home tomorrow.

 

 
December 18th S/Finals
52kg TJ Waite beat Ukraine 3-0
56kg Kurt Walker beat Russia 3-0
60kg Gary McKenna beat Russia TKOI3
91kg Stevie Ward beat Russia TKO13

December 20th

Finals

52kg TJ Waite lost to Cingiz Natirov (Russia) 1-2
56kg Kurt Walker beat Nickolay Shakh (Belarus) 3-0
60kg Gary McKenna lost to Demirty Sapon (Belarus) 1-2
91kg Steven Ward lost to Leonid Chernabayev (Belarus) W/O

 

Ulster Squad

52kg TJ Waite (Ormeau Road)
56kg Kurt Walker (Canal)
60kg Gary McKenna (Old School)
64kg Aiden Walsh (Holy Family)
75kg Conor Wallace (St Monica’s)
91kg Steven Ward (Monkstown)

 

 

 

 

World and European Elite champion Michael Conlan scooped the RTE Sports Person of the Year Award tonight.

The AIBA World No. 1 beat off competition from Irish rugby legend Paul O’Connell and some of Ireland’s top sports stars to take the honours.

“If I hadn’t a won this I probably would have been a bit disappointed, admitted the London 2012 bronze medallist.

“It means the world to me. Coming down here I had a bit of doubt in my my head, but I had to put that to the back of my mind.”

The Irish Boxing Team – despite winning ten World and European medals, five of which were gold – lost out in their bid for the RTE Team of the Year Award.

The Award went to Airtricity League and Cup champions Dundalk after a public vote.

Pat Ryan, President of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association, said they were very proud of Conlan’s achievements.

“Michael won World and European gold this year and qualified for the Olympics. He’s also ranked number one in his weight class in the world. He’s had a phenomenal year, as have all our squads in international competition, and he fully deserves this,” said the IABA President who attended tonight’s RTE Awards, along with IABA CEO Fergal Carruth.

Darren O’Neill, Ceire Smith, Adam Nolan, Michael O’Reilly and Dean Walsh and Irish coach Eddie Bolger also attended last night’s awards.

Conlan is the fourth Irish boxer to win the RTE Sports Person of the Year Award  after Katie Taylor, Michael Carruth and Barry McGuigan.

 

The Ulster High Performance team are enjoying a day off today ahead of Sunday’s finals at a multi-nations tournament in Rostov, Russia.

TJ Waite, Kurt Walker, Gary McKenna and Steven Ward will be in action tomorrow.

 
December 18th S/Finals
52kg TJ Waite beat Ukraine 3-0
56kg Kurt Walker beat Russia 3-0
60kg Gary McKenna beat Russia TKOI3
91kg Stevie Ward beat Russia TKO13

December 20TH

Finals

52kg TJ Waite v Cingiz Natirov (Russia)
56kg Kurt Walker v Nickolay Shakh (Belarus)
60kg Gary McKenna v Demirty Sapon (Belarus)
91kg Steven Ward v Leonid Chernabayev (Belarus)

Ulster Squad

52kg TJ Waite (Ormeau Road)
56kg Kurt Walker (Canal)
60kg Gary McKenna (Old School)
64kg Aiden Walsh (Holy Family)
75kg Conor Wallace (St Monica’s)
91kg Steven Ward (Monkstown

 

The Ulster High Performance squad chalked up four semi-finals wins from four – including a hat-trick over Russia – to book tickets into Saturday’s multi-nation finals in Rostov, Russia.

TJ Waite got proceedings underway with a unanimous decision over the Ukraine and Kurt Walker showed his class against a Russian opponent.

Gary McKenna and Steven Ward TKO’d Russian opponents, both of whom retired injured, in the third round to advance to Saturday’s deciders.

The Ulster team go head-to-head with Belarus in three of Saturday’s encounters, with Waite meeting Russia’s Cingiz Natirov in the flyweight final.

The Ulster squad are due to arrive home on December 21st. Teams from Russia, Ulster, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Kazakhstan and Ukraine are competing in Rostov.

“All the boys performed very well. Four from four, we’re delighted with that,” said coach John Conlan.

“TJ won a great battle against Russia. In a toe-to-toe battle he came out on top. Kurt cruised into final with a classy performance. Gary won a tight fight when his opponent retired in the third round and Steve won a bruising battle against a strong and game Russian. The fight was stopped in last round by a cut.”

 
December 18th S/Finals
52kg TJ Waite beat Ukraine 3-0
56kg Kurt Walker beat Russia 3-0
60kg Gary McKenna beat Russia TKOI3
91kg Stevie Ward beat Russia TKO13

December 19th

Finals

52kg TJ Waite v Cingiz Natirov (Russia)
56kg Kurt Walker v Nickolay Shakh (Belarus)
60kg Gary McKenna v Demirty Sapon (Belarus)
91kg Steven Ward v Leonid Chernabayev (Belarus)

Ulster Squad

52kg TJ Waite (Ormeau Road)
56kg Kurt Walker (Canal)
60kg Gary McKenna (Old School)
64kg Aiden Walsh (Holy Family)
75kg Conor Wallace (St Monica’s)
91kg Steven Ward (Monkstown

Please scroll down for requirements for World Series of Boxing (WSB) and AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) boxers for WSB v APB Olympic qualification event in Sofia, Bulgaria next May.

The top three ranked boxers in each of the eight weight classes from light-fly to light-heavy in Sofia qualify for Rio 2016, according to the official guidelines.

Heavyweights and super-heavyweights must win gold as there is just one place apiece available in these weights for the 31st Olympiad.

David Oliver Joyce and Joe Ward are Ireland’s APB boxers. Ward has already qualified for Rio 2016.

Paddy Barnes and Steven Donnelly, who have also qualified for Rio 2016, and Darren O’Neill and Dean Gardiner have been signed by WSB sides for the new season.

 

Irish WSB Boxers 2016 season

91kg+ Dean Gardiner (Puerto Rico Hurricanes – Clonmel)
91kg Darren O’Neill (Venezuela Caciques – Paulstown)
75kg Steven Donnelly (Hussars Poland – All Saints)
49kg Paddy Barnes (Hussars Poland – Holy Family)

(Barnes and Donnelly have qualified for Rio 2016)

Irish APB Boxers

60kg David liver Joyce (APB, St Michael’s Athy)
81kg Joe Ward (APB, Moate)

(Ward has qualified for Rio 2016)

 

 

Requirements for APB/WSB Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Sofia, Bulgaria May 13th/22nd

 

WSB boxers’ requirements

WSB boxers must meet EITHER of the following criteria to be eligible to participate:

· WSB boxers registered in WSB Season V with participation in at least one bout during WSB Regular Season V and one (1) bout during WSB Regular Season VI;

· WSB boxers registered only in WSB Season VI with participation in at least two (2) bouts during WSB Regular Season VI.

APB boxers’ requirements

APB boxers must meet BOTH of the following criteria to be eligible to participate:

· APB boxers who have a current participation agreement

· APB boxers who have participated in at least two (2) APB bouts before the registration deadline

 

If National Federation have already confirmed to us the qualification of one boxer in a certain weight category, they cannot have another boxer in the same weight category qualify for the same quota place.

Therefore, the National Federation will not be able to send a boxer in the same weight category where they have a secured quota place to the APB/WSB or any Olympic qualifying tournament.