Images: Tara Robins Mari
It wasn’t on the cards today at the 1st Olympic World Qualifier, Tokyo bronze medalist, Aidan Walsh. Aidan, in his opening bout, recorded a first-round stoppage win over United Arab Emirates boxer Husain Alkandari.
Today, he took on Brazil’s Wanderson de Oliveira. The Brazilian is also a Tokyo Olympian and contested the Games at light welterweight. He existed at the Quarter Final stage to eventual champion, Andy Cruz.
This was a testy bout from the first bell; both boxers were warned for not boxing, low heads and stepping back. de Oliveira won the first round, 4-1, but the second went to Walsh, 3-2 – however, he was twice deducted points in the second round for holding. The bout went to de Oliveira.
602 boxers from 113 countries have registered to contest the tournament – making it the third largest boxing tournament in history. As a result, the beginning of boxing has been brought forward by a day, to March 3rd. Three sessions of boxing will take place March 4th to 8th to accommodate the volume of competition required.
49 quota places are available. In all weights Ireland is contesting at the tournament, a last four finish will qualify for Paris. The Paris Boxing Taskforce, which is running the competition on behalf of the International Olympic Committee, has advised that boxers will box to quota – which means boxers will cease competing at the Quarter Finals stage where last 4 qualify.
Day Six – March 8th
Friday is a bumper day for Ireland, with four boxers in Round of 32 action.
66kg Grainne Walsh, who got a bye from the Round of 64, is first up on Friday, and makes her tournament debut. She meets Germany’s Stefanie Von Berge in Bout 5 in Ring B, at around 11am, Irish time. Von Berge contested the European Games in Nowy Targ and most recently contested the European U22 Championships to quarter finals.
80kg Kelyn Cassidy is also between the ropes in the morning session, for his second bout of the tournament. He meets Guatamala’s Wyatt Trujillo Ring A’s Bout 9, at approximately 11.45am, Irish time.
Just one Irish boxer in action in the Afternoon Session. 50kg Daina Moorehouse, fresh from Round of 64 victory over a World silver medalist, opens proceedings in Ring B at 2.30pm, against Venezuela’s Tayonis Cedeno.
Jude Gallagher, contesting at 57kg, has a long wait for his bout tomorrow. He is up in the last bout of the evening session, at around 9.30pm. He contests his Round of 32 bout against India’s Uddin Hussam Mohammed.
Programme, March 8th
Session Times
The morning session begins at 10am, Irish time
The afternoon session begins at 2.30pm, Irish time
The evening session may begin at either 6pm or 7pm Irish time, see below.
There is no afternoon session on March 4th.
Tournament Schedule
Watch live
Olympics.com will stream all of the bouts, from March 8th, onward. It will not stream boxing from March 3rd to 7th.
Team
1st Olympic World Qualifier Team:
50kg Daina Moorehouse, Enniskerry BC, Wicklow
54kg Jennifer Lehane, DCU Boxing Club, Dublin
66kg Grainne Walsh, St. Mary’s BC, Tallaght, Dublin
51kg Sean Mari, Monkstown BC, Dublin
57kg Jude Gallagher, Two Castles ABC, Tyrone
71kg Aidan Walsh, Holy Family GG BC, Belfast
80kg Kelyn Cassidy, Saviours Crystal, Waterford
92+kg Martin McDonagh, Crumlin BC, Dublin
Results
All drawsheets are available here
March 3rd results are here
Session 9A results
Session 9B results
Session 10A results
Session 10B results
Session 11A results
Session 11B results were not available at the time of writing, 10:28pm.