Jude Gallagher pulled out all the stops to earn a place in the quarter-finals of the World Men’s and Women’s Youth Championships in Hungary today.
The Irish male captain and European Youth medallists beat China’s Renuex Zhao on a unanimous decision after a fiery light-fly encounter at the Duna Arena.
Gallagher, who had to stay alert against his switch-hitting opponent, drilled home a steady supply of body shots and sealed the second round with a head shot after a fairly close opening frame.
Three straight lefts to the head early in the third suggested that Zhao had run out ideas against the young Irishman, but, in fairness to the Asian Youth Confederation bronze medallist, he battled all the way down to the final bell.
Gallagher will now meet Brazil in the last-eight on Saturday.
Earlier this afternoon, Caitlin Fryers bowed out in the preliminaries.
The Belfast flyweight, at the beginning of a campaign to match or surpass her bronze medal at the 2017 Worlds Youths, was beaten on a 4-1 split decision by Thailand’s Kittiya Nampa after three close rounds.
Fryers game plan was to circumvent the longer reach of her Asian opponent, and she mostly achieved that, particularly in the opening seconds of the third with Nampa taking four/five unanswered head shots.
The Thai southpaw, effective with her back hand, was also on the floor from a hook at the end second but that was ruled a slip. Overall, a big performance from Fryers in a bout that could have gone either way.
Meantime, Gallagher and Daina Moorehouse, who is between the ropes on Sunday, are both through to the last-eight and are within striking distance of at least bronze.
Irish female captain Lauren Kelly boxes in the last 16 on Sunday.
AIBA World Men’s and Women’s Youth Championships Budapest, Hungary
August 23
Last 32
51kg Caitlin Fryers (Ireland) lost to Kittiya Nampa (Thailand) 1-4
Last 16
49kg Jude Gallagher (Ireland) beat Renuex Zhao (China) 5-0
August 22
Last 32
56kg Brandon McCarthy (Ireland) lost to Kumar Akash (India) 0-5
Last 16
48kg Daina Moorehouse (Ireland) beat Marta Lopez Del Arbol (Spain) 4-1
August 21
Last 32
57kg:Dearbhla Rooney (Ireland) lost to Panpatchara Somnuek (Thailand) 2-3
52kg:Dean Clancy (Ireland) lost to Asa Stevens (USA) 2-3
August 25
Q/Final
49kg Jude Gallagher (Ireland) v Rafael Bianchi (Brazil) (evening)
August 26
Q/Final
48kg Diana Moorehouse (Ireland) v Nillda Meekoon (Thailand) (afternoon)
Last 16
75kg: Lauren Kelly (Ireland) v Tallya Brillaux (France) (afternoon)
Irish squad