A commendable start to 2018 has seen Ireland’s boxers claim 22 medals and command top ten positions in all three European tournaments so far this year.
Moreover, Joe Ward (British Lionhearts) and Caoimhin Agyarko-Hynes (Italia Thunder) recorded four wins from four in the WSB.
Ward, who won three of those fights, topped the Individual light-heavy rankings at the end of the regular season.
The 2018 WSB season is not a qualifier for Tokyo 2020, but it’s likely that there will be places at the 32nd Olympiad up for grabs next term.
Similarly, Irish boxing qualified eight athletes for Rio 2016. Three of those boxers – Paddy Barnes, Michael Conlan and Steven Donnelly – booked tickets through the WSB, a 37% return.
However, if Katie Taylor (because there is no WSB for women) was taken out of the Rio equation the return was 42%, which has led to speculation as to what the percentage would be if there was an Irish WSB side?
Meanwhile, the European Women’s Elite Championships begin in Sofia, Bulgaria next Monday.
Current EU champion Michaela Walsh, World Elite finalist Kellie Harrington and EU medallist Grainne Walsh represent Ireland at feather, light and welter.
The tournament is an AIBA ranking competition.
Irish Boxing in 2018 International Competition Up to June
World Series of Boxing
February 16th Newcastle
81kg Joe Ward (British Lionhearts, Moate BC) beat Damir Plantic (Croatian Knights) 3-0
World Series of Boxing
March 16th Milan
8kg Joe Ward (British Lionhearts, Moate BC) beat Blagoy Naydenov (Italia Thunder) 3-0
USA v Ireland Manchester, New Hampshire
March 21st
60kg Stacia Suttles lost to Kellie Harrington 0-3
75kg Leah Cooper beat Aoife Burke 3-0
60kg James Browning beat Francis Cleary 2-1
64kg Adrian Benton lost to Wayne Kelly 1-2
64kg Charlie Sheehy lost to Caoimhin Ferguson 1-2
69kg Freudis Rojas Jr. lost to Kieran Molloy 1-2
75kg Nikita Ababiy beat Gerard French 3-0
91+kg Richard Torrez beat Dean Gardiner 3-0
USA 4 Ireland 4
USA v Ireland Springfield
March 15th
60kg: Amelia Moore beat Kellie Harrington 2-1
69kg: Oshae Jones beat Grainne Walsh 2-1
60kg: Marc Castro beat George Bates 2-1
64kg Charlie Sheehy beat Wayne Kelly 2-1
64kg: Tiger Johnson beat Caoimhin Ferguson 2-1
69kg: Quinton Randall lost to Paddy Donovan 0-3
75kg: Troy Isley beat Gerard French 3-0
75kg: Nikita Ababiy lost to Brett McGinty 1-2
81kg: Khalil Coe beat Caoimhin Agyarko-Hynes 3-0
91kg: Adrian Tillman lost to Kiril Afanasev 0-3
USA 7 Ireland 3
USA v Ireland Boston
March 12th
54kg: Virginia Fuchs beat Lauren Hogan RSC2
60kg: Stacia Suttles lost to Kellie Harrington 0-3
69kg: Oshae Jones beat Grainne Walsh 2-1
60kg: Marc Castro beat Frankie Cleary 3-0
60kg: Keyshawn Davis beat George Bates 3-0
64kg: Tiger Johnson beat Wayne Kelly 2-1
69kg: Quinton Randall lost to Kieran Molloy 1-2
75kg: Troy Isley beat Bret McGinty 3-0
75kg: Nikita Ababiy lost to Michael Nevin 1-2
81kg: Khalil Coe beat Caoimhin Agyarko-Hynes 3-0
91kg: Adrian Tillman lost to Kiril Afanasev Pts 1-2
91kg+: Richard Torres beat Dean Gardiner 3-0
USA 8 Ireland 4
Irish squad
Female
54kg: Lauren Hogan (St Brigid’s BC)
60kg: Kellie Harrington (St Mary’s BC)
69kg: Grainne Walsh (Spartacus BC)
75kg: Aoife Burke (St Mary’s BC)
Male
91kg+: Dean Gardiner (Clonmel BC)
91kg: Kiril Afanasev (Smithfield BC)
81kg: Caoimhin Agyarko-Hynes (Holy Trinity BC)
75kg: Michael Nevin (Portlaoise BC)
75kg: Brett McGinty (Oakleaf BC)
75kg: Gerard French (Clonard BC)
69kg: Kieran Molloy (Oughterard BC)
69kg: Paddy Donovan (OLOL BC)
64kg: Wayne Kelly (Portlaoise BC)
64kg: Caoimhin Ferguson (Clonard BC)
60kg: George Bates (St Mary’s BC)
60kg: Francis Cleary (Ballina BC)
Team manager – Bernard Dunne
Head coach – Zaur Antia
Coach – Phillip Keogh
Coach – Martin Donovan
Coach – Paul Thompson
European U/22 Men’s and Women’s Championships Targu Jiu, Romania
March 25th
Last 16
51kg Niamh Earley (Ireland) lost to Aikaterini Koutsogeorgo (Greece) 0-5
57kg Shauna Blaney (Ireland) lost to Nedkova Ivanova (Bulgaria) 1-4
March 26th
Last 16
52kg Conor Quinn (Ireland) lost to Maksim Stakheev (Russia) 1-4
Last 32
91kg Kevin Sheehy (Ireland) lost to Felix Kuhne (Germany) 0-5
March 27th
Last 16
75kg Gabriel Dossen (Ireland) beat Hambardum Hakobya (Armenia) 4-1
56kg Jordan Moore (Ireland) lost to Eusebi Jitaru (Romania) 0-5
Q/Finals
March 28th
Q/Finals
48kg Shannon Sweeney (Ireland) lost to Mari-Emi Todorova (Bulgaria) 0-5
60kg Amy Boadhurst (Ireland) beat Esra Yildiz (Turkey) 5-0
March 29th
Q/Finals
75kg Gabriel Dossen (Ireland) lost to Giorge Kharabadze (Georgia) 1-4
S/Finals
60kg Amy Broadhurst (Ieland) beat Belinda Limuka (France) 5-0
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Ireland) beat Carlotta Paoletti (Italy) 5-0
April 1st
Finals
60kg Amy Boadhurst (Ireland) beat Francesca Martuschiello (Italy) 5-0
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Ireland) lost to Busenaz Surmeneli (Turkey) W/O
Irish squad
Female
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea) (Silver)
60kg Amy Broadhurst (Dealgan) (Gold)
57kg Shauna Blaney (Navan)
51kg Niamh Earley (Ryston)
48kg Shannon Sweeney (St Annes)
Male
52kg Conor Quinn (Clonard)
56kg Jordan Moore (Glasnevin)
75kg Gabriel Dossen (Olympic)
91kg Kevin Sheehy (St Francis)
IABA President: Dominic O’Rourke
Team manager: Anna Moore & Paddy Osborne
Head coach: Dmitry Dmitruk
Coaches: Eoin Pluck, Thomas Murray, Valerie Hamilton
R&J: Philip Rooney
World Series of Boxing
April 6th Paris
75kg Caoimhin Agyarko-Hynes (Italia Thunder, Holy Trinity BC) beat Hong Sik Kee Clement (French Fighting Roosters) 3-0
World Series of Boxing
April 14th Newport, Wales
81kg Joe Ward (British Lionhearts, Moate BC) beat Bakary Diabra (French Fighting Roosters) KO5
European Men’s and Women’s Youth Championships Roseto degli Abruzzi, Italy
April 25th
Finals
48kg Daina Moorhouse (Ireland) beat Kseniia Beschastnova (Russia) 4-1
52kg Dean Clancy (Ireland) lost to Ivan Price (England) 0-5
57kg Dearbhla Rooney (Ireland) lost to Jessica Triebelova (Slovakia) 0-5
64kg Evelyn Igharo (Ireland) lost to Gemma Richardson (England) 0-5
April 24th
S/Finals
48kg Daina Moorehouse (Ireland) beat Maxi Klotzer (Germany) 4-1
49kg Jude Gallagher (Ireland) lost to Atilla Bernath (Hungary) 0-5
52kg Dean Clancy (Ireland) beat Yurii Tomiuk (Ukraine) 5-0
57kg Dearbhla Rooney (Ireland) beat Valeria Radionova (Russia) 3-2
64kg Evelyn Igharo (Ireland) beat Maria Sedaya (Ukraine) 5-0
75kg Lauren Kelly (Ireland) lost to Elsidata Selaj (Albania) 0-5
April 22nd
Q/Finals
48kg Daina Moorhouse (Ireland) beat Marta Lopez (Spain) 5-0
49kg Jude Gallagher (Ireland) beat Seyran Yeghikyan (Armenia) 5-0
56kg Brandon McCarthy (Ireland) lost to Muhamet Qamili (Albania) 2-3
57kg Dearbhla Rooney (Ireland) beat Nikolina Cacic (Croatia) 4-1
64kg Evelyn Igharo (Ireland) beat Anita Zilic (Croatia) RSC1
75kg Lauren Kelly (Ireland) beat Sena Erdogen (Turkey) 3-0
April 21st
Last 16
51kg Caitlin Fryers (Ireland) lost to Liubov Sharpova (Russia) 1-4
54kg Mary Geraghty (Ireland) lost to Aycan Guldagi (Turkey) 0-5
60kg Aoibhe Ginty (Ireland) lost to Stephanie von Berge (Germany) AB3
Q/Finals
52kg Dean Clancy (Ireland) beat Patrick Cappi (Italy) 4-1
81kg Aoibhe Carrabine (Ireland) lost to Sagit Emanur (Turkey) 0-5
81kg Edward Barrett (Ireland) lost to Karol Itauma (England) 0-5
April 20th
Last 16
49kg Jude Gallagher (Ireland) beat Ali Dagly (Ukraine) 5-0
52kg Dean Clancy (Ireland) beat Murat Ugurlu (Turkey) 5-0
56kg Brandon McCarthy (Ireland) beat Joe Tyres (England) 5-0
64kg Callum Walsh (Ireland) lost to Ilya Popov (Russia) 1-4
69kg Edward Donovan (Ireland) lost to Konstantin Barbosu (Hungary) 1-4
April 19th
Last 16
48kg Daina Moorhouse (Ireland) beat Jvanisova Olena (Ukraine) 5-0
57kg Dearbhla Rooney (Ireland) beat Weronikia Pawlak (Poland) 5-0
81kg Edward Barrett (Ireland) beat Ahmad Abdun Abu (Israel) 4-0Last 32
52kg Dean Clancy (Ireland beat Maksim Pankou (Belarus) 5-0
60kg Alex Higgins (Ireland) lost to Bojan Timotijevic (Serbia) 1-4
April 18th
Last 32
56kg Brandon McCarthy (Ireland) beat Alexander Tanko (Slovakia) 5-0
64kg Callum Walsh (Ireland) beat Kilp Frank (Germany) 5-0
69kg Edward Donovan (Ireland) beat Michal Jarlinski (Poland) 5-0
75kg Kane Tucker (Ireland) lost to Gabrijel Veocic (Croatia) 2-3
Irish squad
Male
49kg Jude Gallagher (Two Castles) (Bronze)
52kg Dean Clancy (Ballinacarrow) (Silver)
56kg Brandon McCarthy (St Michaels Athy)
60kg Alex Higgins (Fr Horgans)
64kg Callum Walsh (Riverstown)
69kg Edward Donovan (O.L.O.L.)
75kg Kane Tucker (Holy Family GG) Cpt
81kg Edward Barrett (Olympic)
Female
48kg Daina Moorehouse (Enniskerry) (Gold)
51kg Caitlyn Fryers (Immaculata)
54kg Mary Geraghty (Baldoyle)
57kg Dearbhla Rooney (Sean McDermott) (Silver)
60kg Aoibhe Ginty (Geesala)
64kg Evelyn Igharo (Clann Naofa) (Silver)
75kg Lauren Kelly (St Brigids Edenderry) Cpt (Bronze)
81kg Aoibhe Crabine (Geesala)
IABA President Dom O’Rourke
Team Manager: Peter O’Donnell and Fiona Hennigan
Coaches: Billy McClean, Michael Carruth, Michael Mongan,Anita Just
R&J John Casey
Ireland versus India Castlebar May 26th
49kg Ricky Nesbitt lost to Himanshu Sharma 1-4
52kg Connor Quinn lost to Gaurav Solanki 0-5
52kg Brendan Irvine beat Salman Shaikh 5-0
56kg Jordan Moore beat Madan Lal 4-1
60kg George Bates beat Ankush Dahiya 4-1
64kg Kenneth Doyle lost to Ashish 2-3
64kg Wayne Kelly beat Dheeraj 4-1
69kg Kieran Molloy beat Duryodhan Singh Negi 5-0
75kg Michael Nevin beat Mandeep Janjra 5-0
81kg Tony Brown beat Manish Panwar 5-0
9kkg Kirill Afanasev beat Sanjeet 4-1
91+kg Dean Gardiner beat Parveen Kumar 5-0
(Ireland win 9-3)
Coaches; John Conlan, Eoin Pluck, Martin Donovan
European Schoolboy & Schoolgirl Championships Albena, Bulgaria May 21/30
Tuesday, May 29th
Finals
40kg Michael Faulkner (Ireland) beat Linar Valiullin (Russia) 5-0
50kg James Donovan (Ireland) lost to Barney Smith-Ryston (England) 0-5
54kg Yasmin Meredith (Ireland) beat Arina Vostrikova (Russia) 5-0
57kg Kaci Crowley (Ireland) beat Sofia Pelevina (Russia) 5-0
63kg Winne Christina McDonagh (Ireland) beat Alina Safina (Russia) 5-0
67kg Dearbhla Tinnelly (Ireland) lost to Kraisimara Voykova (Bulgaria) 2-3
70kg Nasya McJin-Igelige (Ireland) lost to Valeria Vorontosova (Russia) 0-5
76kg Curtis Darcy (Ireland) lost to Bekkham Alimkhanov (Russia) 2-3
May 28th
S/Finals
40kg Michael Faulkner (Ireland) beat Laslo Balogh (Hungary) 5-0
50kg James Donovan (Ireland) beat Alfredo Simone (Italy) 5-0
54kg John Fay (Ireland) lost to Matthew Knipe (England) 0-5
72kg Tyler Meade (Ireland) lost to Daniil Kolotov (Russia) 0-5
76kg Curtis Darcy (Ireland) beat Yehor Tkachenko (Ukraine) 5-0
May 26th
Q/Finals
38.5kg Martin Collins (Ireland) lost to Anton Avdienko (Russia) 0-5
40kg Michael Faulkner (Ireland) beat Olek Levchenko (Ukraine) 5-0
41.5kg William Faulkner (Ireland) lost to Bogdan Priima (Russia) 2-3
43kg Jason Nevin (Ireland) lost to Shane Patterson (England) 2-3
46kg Cale Brennan (Ireland) lost Indir Vracic (Serbia) 1-4
S/Finals
36kg Katie O’Keeffe (Ireland) lost to Renata Mingalimova (Russia) 0-5
42kg Nora Jackman (Ireland) lost to Daria Kostkinia (Russia) 0-5
45kg Robyn Kelly (Ireland) lost to Alena Tremasova (Russia) 0-5
48kg Robyn Murran (Ireland) lost to Charan Dhesi (England) 0-5
54kg Yasmin Meredith (Ireland) beat Maria Mica (Romania) RSC2
57kg Kaci Crowley (Ireland) beat Rosalia Cataldo (Italy) RSC2
63kg Winne Christina McDonagh (Ireland) beat Sunniva Hofstad (Norway) 3-2
67kg Dearbhla Tinnelly (Ireland) beat Alena Krinichnaia (Russia) 5-0
70kg Nasya McJin-Igelige (Ireland) beat Karine Araptican (Ukraine) 5-0
May 25th
Q/Finals
48kg Michael Connors (Ireland) lost to Caider Abduraimov (Ukraine) 0-5
50kg James Donovan (Ireland) beat Dzhem Demirev (Bulgaria) 5-0
54kg John Fay (Ireland) beat Mikita Harbuz (Belarus) 5-0
62kg Ryan Murphy (Ireland) lost to Mykola Serov (Ukraine) 0-5
65kg Joe Hutchinson (Ireland) lost to Irakli Janelidze (Georgia) 0-5
72kg Tyler Meade (Ireland) beat Milon Tibic (Serbia) 5-0
76kg Curtis Darcy Ireland) beat Malyas Nagyos (Romania) 4-1
80kg Patrick McDonagh (Ireland) lost to Oleg Ilchenko (Ukraine) 0-5
May 24th
Last 16
38.5kg Martin Collins (Ireland) beat Anton Salika (Belarus) 3-2
40kg Michael Faulkner (Ireland) beat Gocha Gordulava (Georgia) 5-0
44.5kg Conor Donovan (Ireland) lost to Dominik Mucska (Hungary) 2-3
68kg Feidhlim Behan (Ireland) lost to Tymofii Krupko (Ukraine) 1-4
Q/Finals
39kg Sophie Elstone (Ireland) lost to Polina Spirna (Russia) RSC2
42kg Nora Jackman (Ireland) beat Viktoria Danielova (Slovakia) 5-0
45kg Robyn Kelly (Ireland) beat Lyuba Atanasova (Bulgaria) RSC2
48kg Robyn Murran (Ireland) beat Izabella Devenyi (Hungary) 3-2
51kg Labhaoise Glynn (Ireland) lost to Francesca Falconeri (Italy) 0-5
54kg Yasmin Meredith (Ireland) beat Sophia Mazzoni (Italy) RSCI2
57kg Kaci Crowley (Ireland) beat Lucia Simulescu (Romania) 5-0
May 23rd
Last 16
41.5kg William Faulkner (Ireland) beat Georgis Georgantzas (Greece) 5-0
43kg Jason Nevin (Ireland) beat Serghei Nova (Moldova) 5-0
46kg Cale Brennan (Ireland) beat Denys Rosdolskyi (Ukraine) 4-1
52kg Brannon McMahon (Ireland) lost to Volodymyr Kamaieve (Ukraine) 0-5
54kg John Fay (Ireland) beat Dovydas Paskevicius (Lithuania) 5-0
56kg James McGuinness (Ireland) lost to Iskren Mihaylov (Bulgaria) 1-4
59kg Thomas McAleer (Ireland) lost to Savelii Suprunets (Ukraine) 0-5
Q/Final
91kg Martin McDonagh (Ireland) lost to Kyrylo Novika (Ukraine) 0-5
May 22nd
Last 16
60kg Laura Moran (Ireland) lost to Abby Briggs (England) 2-3
48kg Michael Connors (Ireland) beat Nedas Grigorianas (Lithuania) 3-2
50kg James Donovan (Ireland) beat Krisztian Balagh (Hungary) 4-0
Irish squad
Boys
38.5kg Martin Collins (Drimnagh)
40kg Michael Faulkner (Northside) (Gold)
41.5kg William Faulkner (Rathkeale)
43kg Jason Nevin (Olympic Mullingar)
44.5kg Conor Donovan (Clonmel)
46kg Cale Brennan (St Michaels Athy) Cpt
48kg Michael Connors (St Marys Dublin)
50kg James Donovan (O.L.O.L.) (Silver)
52kg Brannon McMahon (Carrickmore)
54kg John Fay (Swords) (Bronze)
56kg James McGuinness (St Monicas)
59kg Thomas McAleer (Swords)
62kg Ryan Murphy (Neilstown)
65kg Joe Hutchinson (Neilstown)
68kg Feidhlim Behan (Kilcullen)
72kg Tyler Meade (Kilnamanagh) (Bronze)
76kg Curtis Darcy (Callan) (Silver)
80kg Patrick McDonagh (St Josephs)
Girls
36kg Katie O’Keeffe (Kanturk) (Bronze)
39kg Sophia Elstone (Ardnaree)
42kg Nora Jackman (Paulstown) (Bronze)
45kg Robyn Kelly (Ballynacargy) Cpt (Bronze)
48kg Robyn Murran (St Brigids Kildare) (Bronze)
51kg Labhaoise Glynn (Cloghan)
54kg Yasmin Meredith (Glasnevin) (Gold)
57kg Kaci Crowley (Erne) (Gold)
60kg Laura Moran (St Annes)
63kg Winne Christina McDonagh (Neilstown) (Gold)
67kg Dearbhla Tinnelly (Clann Naofa) (Silver)
70kg Nasya McJin-Igelige (Clann Naofa) (Silver)
IABA President: Dominic O’Rourke
Team Managers: Martin Fennessey and Jennifer O’Sullivan
Coaches: Liam Brereton, Jim O’Neill, Eva Carr, John Gallagher, Tom Hayes
R&J: Brian Wallace