The draw for the inaugural World Boxing Championships has taken place in Liverpool, and has set out the path to the podium for all 17 Team Ireland boxers.
540 boxers from 66 federations are contesting these champions, the first in which men and women compete for World gold together. The competition will be the biggest ever Olympic-style boxing event held in the UK, and includes 17 medallists from Paris 2024 and more than 30 boxers that competed at the most recent Olympic Games. It will feature action at 10 weight classes for men and women with 80 medals being handed out, including 20 golds.
Contesting this Championships is made possible by IABA clubs’ decision in April to also affiliate to World Boxing, on a dual member basis. World Boxing, which will run boxing at the LA28 Olympic Games, affirmed IABA as a member in May.
The full list of national federations competing at the World Boxing Championships 2025 are: Albania, Algeria, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Czechia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, England, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Venezuela and Wales.
Draws
Paris Olympian, Daina Moorehouse of Enniskerry BC in Wicklow, will open her account at the Championships in Saturday’s Afternoon Session, which begins at 11am. She’ll contest against Laura Fuertes Fernandez of Spain, a fellow Olympian. Fuertes Fernandez is a World, European Games and Mediterranean Games bronze medalist. Daina’s full draw is available here
Paris Olympian 54kg Jenny Lehane of DCU BC is also in a Last 32 bout, taking on the Poland’s Wicktoria Rogalinska.
She boxes in Thursday’s afternoon session
Jenny’s full draw is available here
Double Olympian, 57kg Michaela Walsh, opens her World Boxing Championship campaign on Friday.
She’s in a Last 32 contest against Saudi Arabia’s Hadeel Ashbour in the Evening Session
Michaela’s full draw is available here
60kg Zara Breslin of Tramore BC, Waterford, opens her World Boxing Championship campaign against Turkey’s Gizem Ozer – a 2023 European Games bronze medalist and 2022 European U22 silver medalist.
They meet in Saturday’s evening session. Zara’s full draw is available here
Team Ireland’s Grainne Walsh is in a stacked 65kg category – with 27 other boxers.
The Paris Olympian has been first drawn to face Slovakia’s Jessica Triebelova in Friday’s Afternoon Session
Grainne’s full draw is available here
Team Ireland’s Lisa O’Rourke will box alongside 18 other women in the 70kg category.
She has a bye to the Last 16, and will take on Shirleidis Orozco Martinez of Colombia in Sunday’s Evening Session
Lisa’s full draw is available here
Double Olympian and four-time continental champion, Aoife O’Rourke, has a first round World Championships bye.
She’s in a group of 18 boxers, and is through to the Last 16. She’ll take on Monika Langerova of the Czech Republic on Sunday.
Aoife’s full draw is available here
Team Ireland’s 50kg Louis Rooney will open his World Boxing Championships campaign on Friday.
He’s in a category with 25 boxers, and will first step between the ropes against Jordan’s Huthaifa Eshish
Louis’ full draw is available here
Team Ireland’s Patsy Joyce is in the World Boxing Championship mix with 38 other boxers in the 55kg category.
He’s gotten a bye to the last 32, where he’ll take on Korea’s Jong Hun Shin on Sunday.
Patsy’s full draw is available here
Team Ireland’s Adam Hession finds himself in the largest weight category by number in the World Boxing Championships.
There are 43 boxers contesting for Male 60kg gold.
Adam will take on Australia’s Jacob Cassar in Thursday’s evening session. Adam’s full draw is available here
Paris Olympian Dean Clancy is another Team Ireland boxer is a stacked World Boxing Championships weight category.
There are 40 boxers contesting the top of the 65kg podium. Dean has been given a bye in the draw, and opens his campaign against Turkmenistan’s Ihlasbek Kochkarov on Sunday’s Evening Session
Dean’s complete draw is available here
Team Ireland’s Matthew McCole opens his World Boxing Championship account on Saturday.There are 41 boxers in the M70kg category – it’s the 2nd largest in the competition
Matthew has a bye to the Last 32, and will meet Ronald Chavez of the Philippines.
Matthew’s full draw is available here
Team Ireland’s Gavin Rafferty opens his account at the World Boxing Championships on Friday.
He’s in a 75kg weight category with 23 other boxers – and has been drawn against Azerbaijan’s Saidjamshid Jafarov.
Gavin’s full draw is available here
Team Ireland’s Kelyn Cassidy gets his World Boxing Championships underway on the opening day.
The 80kg category has 36 boxers competing for gold. Kelyn has been drawn against the Dominican Republic’s Noel Pacheco and first boxes in Thursday’s evening session.
Kelyn’s complete draw is available here
Team Ireland’s Brian Kennedy has a World Championships bye, and won’t box until Tuesday.
There are 24 boxers in his 85kg weight category, and he’ll take on the winner of Friday’s meeting of Ukraine and Germany
Brian’s complete draw is available here
Team Ireland heavyweight, Jack Marley, has been seeded 3rd in his weight at the World Boxing Championships.
That’s accorded him a bye, and he won’t be in action until Monday’s Afternoon Session – he’ll take on the winner of the meeting between England and Ukraine.
Jack’s complete draw is here
Team Ireland’s superheavy, Martin McDonagh, is in a World Boxing Championships category alongisde 29 other boxers.
He opens his account at the Last 32 stage, taking on India’s Narender Narender in Friday’s Evening Session.
Martin’s full draw is available here
Schedules – Day One and Two
World Boxing has released the schedules for the first two days of boxing. 54kg Jenny Lehane, 60kg Adam Hession and 80kg Kelyn Cassidy are between the ropes on the opening day – while in action on Friday are in action are 50kg Louis Rooney, 57kg Michaela Walsh, 65kg Grainne Walsh, 75kg Gavin Rafferty and 90+kg Martin McDonagh
Watch
World Boxing has partnered with Eurovision Sport to broadcast the Championship. Coverage, available HERE, begins at 11am on Thursday morning.
The championship website, where tickets are available for purchase, is HERE
Team Ireland
51kg Daina Moorehouse, of Enniskerry BC, Wicklow. Daina is from Bray, Co. Wicklow.
54kg Jenny Lehane of DCU Boxing Club, Dublin. Jenny is from Ashbourne, Co. Meath
57kg Michaela Walsh of Holy Family Golden Gloves BC Belfast.
60kg Zara Breslin of Tramore BC, Waterford.
65kg Grainne Walsh of St. Mary’s BC, Tallaght, Dublin. Grainne is from Tullamore, Co. Offaly
70kg Lisa O’Rourke of Castlerea BC, Co. Roscommon
75kg Aoife O’Rourke of Castlerea BC, Co. Roscommon. Team Co-Captain
50kg Louis Rooney of Star BC, Belfast
55kg Patsy Joyce of Olympic BC, Mullingar Co. Westmeath
60kg Adam Hession of Monivea BC, Co. Galway. Team Co-Captain
65kg Dean Clancy of Sean McDermott BC, Co. Leitrim. Dean is from Co. Sligo
70kg Matthew McCole of Illies Golden Glove BC Co. Donegal
75kg Gavin Rafferty of Dublin Docklands Boxing Club
80kg Kelyn Cassidy of Saviours Crystal BC, Co. Waterford
85kg Brian Kennedy of St. Brigid’s BC Edenderry Co. Offaly
90kg Jack Marley of Monkstown BC, Dublin
90+kg Martin McDonagh of Galway BC
Support Staff
- Team Manager: Jon Mackey, National Performance Director
- Head Coach: Zauri Antia
- Coaches: Damain Kennedy, Lynne McEnery, Eoin Pluck, James Doyle and JP Delaney
- Doctor: Jim Clover
- Lead Physio: Rob Tuomey
- Performance Analyst: Alan Swanton
- Logistics Support: Sean Crowley, High Performance Manager