Team Ireland have closed-out the opening day of competition at the European U17 Championship in Germany with four wins from 6 bouts.

In all, 369 boxers are contesting the tourament from Albania, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, England, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Turkey and Ukraine 

Paige Nickels is through to the 54kg quarter finals following a dominant 5-0 win over Lithuania’s Akvilė Siupieniute. Paige boxes for a medal on Saturday, against Aleksandra Halbina of Poland

Emmet Shields has won through to the 48kg Last 16 following a high-tempo bout against home boxer, Aaron Rakk of Germany. The split decision went to Emmet on a scoreline of 27:29; 28: 29; 28:28; 27:29;27:29 and he is back in action tomorrow, contesting against Alon Amzaleg of Israel

60kg Jason Donoghue has won his opening bout, at Last 32 contest against France’s David Harutyunyan on a 4-1 scoreline. Judges scored the bout 30:27; 29: 28; 28:29; 30:27; 29: 28. Jason steps back between the ropes on Thursday, contesting his Last 16 bout against Estonia’s Artjom Timasov.

Louise Joyce has won through to the 46kg quarter finals following a 4-1 split decision win over Italy’s Michela Guglielmon. The final scores were 27:30; 28:29; 28:29; 28:29; 28:29. Louise boxes for a medal on Friday, against England’s Lily Bassett.

Not to be for Team Ireland Ruth Dossen in her 60kg Last 16 contest against Lithuania’s Miglė Griskonyte, despite a valiant performance. The 5-0 decision went to the Lithanian boxer and judges scored the bout 28: 29; 28:29; 27:30; 27:30; 27:30. While 70kg Conor Dowd exits the championship, despite a brave performance. He contested against Germany’s Alberto Antochi. The 5-0 decision went to the home boxer and judges scored the bout 28: 29; 28:29; 27:30; 27:30; 27:30.

Team Ireland is led and managed by Anna Moore of St. Francis BC, Limerick and Joey Simpson, Saviours Crystal BC, Waterford. The team is coached by Valerie Hamilton of St. Francis BC, Limerick, Liam Cunningham of Saints BC, Antrim, Linda Morgan of Arklow BC, Wicklow and John Coffey, Sliabh Luachra BC, Kerry. Joe Lowe of St. Paul’s ABC Belfast has been nominated as an R&J.

All images: Andrea Ifodi

Day Two

6 Team Ireland boxers are in action on Day Two in Kienbaum

Kristian Jubani begins his 50kg tournament at Last 16 stage, against Ukraine’s Kostiantyn Hubenko. That contest is Bout 4 of Ring B’s Afternoon Session. Three contests later, in Bout 7, 75kg John Ward boxes his Last 16 bout against Italy’s Jacopo Ferati. And in Bout 12 of the same ring and session, 80+kg William Heaphy opens his account against Finland’s Ekoevi Tomety.

57kg Ella Archbold opens procedings in Ring A’s Evening Session, contesting her Last 16 bout against Germany’s Lorin Sayim. 48kg Emmet Shields is back in action, taking on Alon Amzaleg of Israel in Bout 8

54kg Michael McDonagh received a bye to the Last 16, and will take on Azerbaijan’s Ibrahim Badalli in Bout 10 of Ring B’s Evening Session

Schedule | Ring A, Afternoon Session

Schedule | Ring B, Afternoon Session

Schedule | Ring A, Evening Session

Schedule | Ring B, Evening Session

Watch

Afternoon Session, beginning at 10am

Evening Session, beginning at 2:30pm

Team Ireland

46kg | Louise Joyce | Olympic BC, Westmeath

46kg | Pat Stokes | Mullingar Shuffler BC, Westmeath

48kg | Abby Murray |Muskerry BC, Cork

48kg | Emmet Shields | Glasnevin BC, Dublin

50kg | Lucie Prentice, Banbridge BC, Antrim

50kg | Kristian Jubani | Crumlin BC, Dublin

52kg | Aleigha Murphy | Ballybrack BC, Dublin

52kg | Sean Kelly | St Abbans/Kilmyshall BC, Wexford

54kg | Paige Nickels | Banbridge BC, Antrim

54kg | Michael McDonagh | Avona BC, Dublin

57kg | Ella Archbold |Ballybrack BC, Dublin

57kg | Kalib Walshe | Wexford CBS, Wexford

60kg | Ruth Dossen | Olympic BC, Galway

60kg | Jason Donoghue | Olympic BC, Westmeath

63kg | Claire Crowley | St Martha’s BC, Cork

63kg | Padraig Walsh | Immaculata BC, Antrim

66kg |Alesha Mullis Boyle | Dungloe BC, Donegal

66kg | Kai Dynes Murphy | Immaculata BC, Antrim

70kg | Cassie Henderson | Phoenix ABC, Antrim

70kg |Conor Dowds | Immaculata BC, Antrim

75kg |Isabelle Hawkins | St Nicholas BC, Tipperary

75kg |John Ward | Monivea BC, Galway

80+kg |William Heaphy, Golden Gloves BC, Cork

Support Staff

Team Managers | Anna Moore, St. Francis BC, Limerick | Joey Simpson, Saviours Crystal BC, Waterford

Coaches | Valerie Hamilton, St. Francis BC, Limerick | Liam Cunningham, Saints BC, Antrim

Linda Morgan, Arklow BC, Wicklow | John Coffey, Sliabh Luachra BC, Kerry

Referee/Judge | Joe Lowe, St. Paul’s ABC, Belfast

The Irish Athletic Boxing Association has partnered with Cavan Sports Partnership to support the growth and development of boxing throughout that county.

This multi-pronged approach will deliver 1,200 units of training to up to 240 young people over a 6 week period, activating them in to the Cavan boxing community. Training will be delivered in school and youth group settings, beginning in January.

To support the signposting of hundreds of additional people towards boxing in Cavan, subsized coaching courses are to be made available to 15 people. On completion, this will almost double the county’s boxing coach population.

These newly qualified coaches will also be provided with individual mentoring throughout an additional 6 week participation programme, where they will assist in the delivery of Start Box in 3 Cavan clubs.

Projects such as seek to grow the boxing community by simultaneous attracting new members and faciliting the qualification and development of new coaches.

Project Highlights

• Training & Education
  Subsidised coaching courses targeting 15 participants supported by follow-up Box Start training. Coaches will return hours to club activity as part of their development.
• Mentoring New Coaches
  Newly qualified coaches will be mentored to co-deliver 6-week participation programmes in three clubs, fostering sustainable growth and engagement.
• School & Youth Group Programmes
  Delivery of boxing programmes in 12 schools and youth groups across three club areas. Each programme will run for five weeks, supported by IABA coach packs.

Aoife O’Rourke has been nominated for the Her Sport Athlete of the Year accolade.

Aoife’s outstanding achievements in 2025 are unprecedented and may well be unrepeatable: She won World silver in March at the IBA Women’s World Championships, and 6 months later almost to the day, World gold at the World Boxing Championships.  Boxing’s changing standing global governance landscape means this feat may not be replicable by any other Irish boxer, ever. On her journey in to the annals of Irish boxing lore in Liverpool, Aoife defeated Norway’s Sunniva Hofstad, the only boxer in the world this year to have won gold at every World Boxing Cup.

Outside boxing, she and her sister she, and her sister Lisa, became women’s doubles Hyrox World Champions in April of 2025, and were first ranked by age in the Hyrox Hamburg elite event in October.

Aoife is nominated along side Clare Melia (Basketball), Ellen Walsh (Swimming), Fiona Murtagh (Rowing), Hannah Tyrell (Football), Kate O’Connor (Heptathlon), Katie McCabe (Soccer), Lara Gillespie (Cycling), Orla Comerford (Para Athletics), Sarah Healy (Athletics)

Vote

You can vote here: https://awards.hersport.ie/. The winner will be announced at a gala event on January 23rd.

The draw has taken place in Kienbaum, Germany, for the European U17 Championship, setting the path to the podium for Team Ireland’s 23 competitors.

46kg Louise Joyce of Olympic BC, Westmeath is in a category of 15 boxers. She opens her account at the tournament on Wednesday, against Italy’s Michela Guglielmon

There are 12 boxers in the men’s 46kg category, and Team Ireland’s Pat Stokes of Mullingar Shuffler BC, Westmeath benefits from a bye to the Quarter Finals. He begins his campaign one win away from a medal in Saturday’s Evening Session, against the winner of the prelim between Czech Republic and Italy.

There’s a bye to the Quarter Finals for Abby Murray of Muskerry BC, Cork. The 48kg athlete boxes for a medal on Sunday, against the winner of the preliminary bout between England and Germany.

There are 18 boxers in the 48kg category, including Emmet Shields of Glasnevin BC, Dublin. He opens his account at the tournament in Wednesday’s Afternoon Session, contesting at Last 32 stage against Germany’s Aaron Rakk.

Lucie Prentice of Banbridge BC, Antrim is among 14 boxers contesting at 50kg – and she benefits from a bye to the quarter finals. She’s boxing for a podium place in Sunday’s Afternoon Session, against the winner of the preliminaries stage bout between Romania and Greece.

There are 15 boxers in the Men’s 50kg category, including Crumlin BC’s Kristian Jubani. Kristian begins his tournament at Last 16 stage, against Ukraine’s Kostiantyn Hubenko. That bout takes place in Thursday’s Evening Session.

Aleigha Murphy of Ballybrack BC, Dublin is among 15 boxers contesting at 52kg. She begins her tournament on Friday at Last 16 stage, taking on Lithuania’s Milana Nikova in the Afternoon Session.

There are 20 boxers, including Sean Kelly of St Abbans/Kilmyshall BC, Wexford, contesting at 52kg. He has been given a bye to the Last 16, and opens his account in Thursday’s Afternoon Session against the winner of the Last 32 bout between Poland and France.

54kg Paige Nickels of Banbridge BC, Antrim is among 15 boxers contesting the weight. She makes her tournament debut on Wednesday, at Last 16 stage, against Lithuania’s Akvilė Siupieniute. That’s an Afternoon Session bout.

There are 17 boxers in the Men’s 54kg, including Michael McDonagh of Avona BC, Dublin. Michael has received a bye to the Last 16, and will take on Azerbaijan’s Ibrahim Badalli in Thursday’s Evening Session.

14 boxers, including Ella Archbold of Ballybrack BC, Dublin, are contesting at 57kg. Ella begins her campaign at Last 16 stage on Thursday, against Germany’s Lorin Sayim – that’s in the Evening Session.

Kalib Walshe of Wexford CBS, Wexford is one of 15 boxers in the Men’s 57kg weight category. He makes his debut at Last 16 stage on Friday against Raul Heydarli of Azerbaijan. That’s in the Evening Session.

60kg Ruth Dossen of Olympic BC, Galway is one of 14 boxers in her weight category. She begins her campaign in Wednesday’s Evening Session against Lithuania’s Miglė Griskonyte.

Jason Donoghue of Olympic BC, Westmeath is contesting one of the largest weighs by number in the tournament – Men’s 60kg with 22 boxers. He makes his tournament debut in Wednesday’s Afternoon Session, against France’s David Harutyunyan.

Claire Crowley of St Martha’s BC, Cork begins her tournament one win away from a medal. She is among 13 boxers contesting at Women’s 63kg. Claire boxers her quarter final on Sunday, against the winner of the Last 16 bout between Netherlands and Lithuania.

Team Co-Captain Padraig Walsh of Immaculata BC, Antrim is among 21 boxers contesting at Men’s 63kg – he has been accorded a bye to the Last 16. He’ll begin his tournament on Friday against the winner of the Last 32 bout between Ukraine and Azerbaijan.

Women’s 66kg is among the smallest weights-by-entrant in the championship, and includes Alesha Mullis Boyle of Dungloe BC, Donegal. She has a bye to the quarter finals, and boxes for a medal on Sunday against Ukraine’s Kateryna Moroz.

There are 20 boxers in Men’s 66kg, including Kai Dynes Murphy of Immaculata BC, Antrim. He has a bye to the Last 16, and opens his account on Friday against Roman’s Eduard-Marian Tangerica – that’s in the Evening Session.

Team Co-Captain Cassie Henderson of Phoenix ABC, Antrim is joined by 8 other boxers in Women’s 70kg. She has a bye to the quarter finals, and first boxes on Saturday. She’ll take on Poland’s Magdalena Lewkowicz

70kg Conor Dowds of Immaculata BC, Antrim is among 20 boxers contesting the weight – he begins his tournament in Wednesday’s Evening Session against Germany’s Alberto Antochi.

6 boxers join Isabelle Hawkins of St Nicholas BC, Tipperary in Women’s 75kg. Isabelle makes her tournament debut on Saturday at quarter final stage. She takes on Italy’s Marisol Rivetti.

John Ward of Monivea BC, Galway is among 18 boxers contesting at Men’s 75kg. He’s been accorded a bye to the Last 16, and opens his account on Thursday against the winner of the Last 32 bout between Turkey and Italy.

William Heaphy of Golden Gloves BC, Cork is among 17 boxers contesting at Men’s 80+kg. He has a bye, and begins his campaign on Thursday at Last 16 stage, taking on Finland’s Ekoevi Tomety

Team Ireland is led and managed by Anna Moore of St. Francis BC, Limerick and Joey Simpson, Saviours Crystal BC, Waterford. The team is coached by Valerie Hamilton of St. Francis BC, Limerick, Liam Cunningham of Saints BC, Antrim, Linda Morgan of Arklow BC, Wicklow and John Coffey, Sliabh Luachra BC, Kerry. Joe Lowe of St. Paul’s ABC Belfast has been nominated as an R&J.

Albania, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, England, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Turkey and Ukraine are the 29 registered nations in the competition. Around 300 boxers are expected to contest the championships.

The competition schedule is available here

Girls Draws

46kg | Louise Joyce | Olympic BC, Westmeath || 48kg | Abby Murray |Muskerry BC, Cork

50kg | Lucie Prentice, Banbridge BC, Antrim || 52kg | Aleigha Murphy | Ballybrack BC, Dublin

54kg | Paige Nickels | Banbridge BC, Antrim || 57kg | Ella Archbold |Ballybrack BC, Dublin

60kg | Ruth Dossen | Olympic BC, Galway || 63kg | Claire Crowley | St Martha’s BC, Cork

66kg |Alesha Mullis Boyle | Dungloe BC, Donegal || 70kg | Cassie Henderson | Phoenix ABC, Antrim

75kg |Isabelle Hawkins | St Nicholas BC, Tipperary

Boys Draws

46kg | Pat Stokes | Mullingar Shuffler BC, Westmeath || 48kg | Emmet Shields | Glasnevin BC, Dublin

50kg | Kristian Jubani | Crumlin BC, Dublin || 52kg | Sean Kelly | St Abbans/Kilmyshall BC, Wexford

54kg | Michael McDonagh | Avona BC, Dublin || 57kg | Kalib Walshe | Wexford CBS, Wexford

60kg | Jason Donoghue | Olympic BC, Westmeath || 63kg | Padraig Walsh | Immaculata BC, Antrim

66kg | Kai Dynes Murphy | Immaculata BC, Antrim || 70kg |Conor Dowds | Immaculata BC, Antrim

75kg |John Ward | Monivea BC, Galway || 80+kg |William Heaphy, Golden Gloves BC, Cork

Day One

6 Team Ireland boxers are in action on the opening day of competition.

54kg Paige Nickels takes on Lithuania’s Akvilė Siupieniute in Bout 2 of Ring A’s Afternoon Session. Three bouts later, in Bout 5, 48kg mmet Shields steps between the ropes against home boxer Aaron Rakk and in Bout 9 of the same ring and session, 60kg Jason Donoghue makes his tournament debut against France’s David Harutyunyan.

70kg Conor Dowds contests against Germany’s Alberto Antochi in Bout 13 of Ring A’s Evening Session.

In Ring B’s Evening Session 46kg Louise Joyce is in action against Italy’s Michela Guglielmon in Bout 2. Six contests later, in Bout 8, 60kg Ruth Dossen boxes Lithuania’s Miglė Griskonyte.

Schedule | Ring A, Afternoon Session

Schedule | Ring B, Afternoon Session

Schedule | Ring A, Evening Session

Schedule | Ring B, Evening Session

Watch

Afternoon Session, beginning at 10am

Evening Session, beginning at 2:30pm

Team Ireland

46kg | Louise Joyce | Olympic BC, Westmeath

46kg | Pat Stokes | Mullingar Shuffler BC, Westmeath

48kg | Abby Murray |Muskerry BC, Cork

48kg | Emmet Shields | Glasnevin BC, Dublin

50kg | Lucie Prentice, Banbridge BC, Antrim

50kg | Kristian Jubani | Crumlin BC, Dublin

52kg | Aleigha Murphy | Ballybrack BC, Dublin

52kg | Sean Kelly | St Abbans/Kilmyshall BC, Wexford

54kg | Paige Nickels | Banbridge BC, Antrim

54kg | Michael McDonagh | Avona BC, Dublin

57kg | Ella Archbold |Ballybrack BC, Dublin

57kg | Kalib Walshe | Wexford CBS, Wexford

60kg | Ruth Dossen | Olympic BC, Galway

60kg | Jason Donoghue | Olympic BC, Westmeath

63kg | Claire Crowley | St Martha’s BC, Cork

63kg | Padraig Walsh | Immaculata BC, Antrim

66kg |Alesha Mullis Boyle | Dungloe BC, Donegal

66kg | Kai Dynes Murphy | Immaculata BC, Antrim

70kg | Cassie Henderson | Phoenix ABC, Antrim

70kg |Conor Dowds | Immaculata BC, Antrim

75kg |Isabelle Hawkins | St Nicholas BC, Tipperary

75kg |John Ward | Monivea BC, Galway

80+kg |William Heaphy, Golden Gloves BC, Cork

Support Staff

Team Managers | Anna Moore, St. Francis BC, Limerick | Joey Simpson, Saviours Crystal BC, Waterford

Coaches | Valerie Hamilton, St. Francis BC, Limerick | Liam Cunningham, Saints BC, Antrim

Linda Morgan, Arklow BC, Wicklow | John Coffey, Sliabh Luachra BC, Kerry

Referee/Judge | Joe Lowe, St. Paul’s ABC, Belfast

5 Team Ireland boxers feature in the first ever World Boxing year-end rankings

The new rankings are the second set published by World Boxing and include a number of changes following the ‘World Boxing Cup Finals 2025 – Greater Noida’

The competitions that contributed to these rankings are:

• Paris 2024 Olympic Games (Under PBU regulations)
• World Boxing Cup Finals – Sheffield, England 2024
• World Boxing Challenge – Tammer Tampere, Finland 2024
• World Boxing Cup – Foz do Iguazu, Brazil 2025
• World Boxing Challenge – Usti, Czechia 2025
• World Boxing Cup – Astana, Kazakhstan 2025
• World Boxing Championships – Liverpool, England 2025
• World Boxing Cup Finals – Greater Noida, 2025

75kg World champion, Aoife O’Rourke, is the top ranked boxer in her category, having clocked up 1,500 points. Her sister, Lisa, who contests at 70kg, is ranked 6th in the world in her weight division, with 300 points, while World Boxing Championship bronze medalist, 65kg Grainne Walsh, is 6th with 600 points.

Of the Team Ireland men, World Boxing Championship 55kg bronze medalist, Patsy Joyce, is 5th on 600 points – and heavyweight, Jack Marley, is 8th in his division, on 375 points.

The 2025 rankings, in full, are available here.

The rankings will be used to determine seedings at World Boxing’s major Elite competitions, including the World Boxing Championships, Continental Boxing Championships, Multi-Sport Games, World Boxing Cup Finals and others.