IABA statement.

The IABA has today been made aware of the outcome of the criminal case concerning allegations against the President of the IABA.

As set out in previous press statements the President stepped down in June 2024 from all duties to allow that criminal process to conclude.

We are respectful of the criminal process, and the decision of the jury, and we note that sentencing is due to be carried out in December.

Sexual assault has no place in our organisation or in society generally and the IABA will not tolerate abuses of any kind.

ENDS.

Closing on Friday: entries to the 2025 National Elite Championship.

Entries to Irish Boxing’s marquee competition: the National Elite Championships close on Friday.

The tournament will be contested by World and European medalists, as well as Paris Olympians and Paris & Tokyo Olympians.

Boxing will take place at the home of Irish Boxing from November 11th to 15th.

Please be advised that, as per Article 46 of the IBA Technical and Competition rules, headguards are removed from Women’s Elite Competitions, this also includes our National Elite Championships.

Competition Arrangements

Dates:                                     November 11tht to 15th. Finals take place on the 15th,  

Entries: A non–refundable entry fee of €40 applies. Online entry, via the Blocworx portal, is open till 5pm sharp on Friday 1st, November. Only boxers for whom entries and entry fees have been received will be allowed box. All boxers must enter the Elite championships to be considered for International Duty.

Boxers who enter the 2025 National Elite Championships but who cannot compete through injury will be required to furnish a medical statement of injury to the National Secretary Antoinette Fay McClean at mccleaniaba@gmail.com    

Entry Process:  Affiliated clubs wishing to enter boxers into the championships must log-in to their Blocworx portal, using their unique username and password. Clubs who have not retained their username or password following the completion of their affiliation for the 2024/2025 season, or which are experiencing any difficulty in submitted boxing information or fees should contact IABA staff, Sally Ann Kinch sally@iaba.ie, James Geraghty, James@iaba.ie or Ciara Plunkett, ciara@iaba.ie

Please be aware that all boxers entering this competition must: (1) be members of an IABA affiliated club, (2) must be explicitly named in their club’s Blocworx portal, (3) be eligible to represent IABA under IBA eligibility requirements (4) boxers must have completed the applicable waiver/code of conduct process

No international competition kits to be worn by any boxers; boxers may wear club kit, only.

Draws: Tuesday, 05th November, 1pm in the National Stadium. The draw is being conducted on the basis of pre-entry only.

Attention is drawn to the following IABA rule

A club shall not include in its list of members the name of any person who is a member of any other club. Accordingly, any club making an entry to the National Elite championships affirms that the entrant is not a member of any other club, in any jurisdiction.

Weigh-in and Medical: Boxers will weigh in each day they box. Individual weigh-in times may be given to participants but this will be decided and made known prior to the event. A medical will be performed on each boxer on their first day of competition.

Boxing Record books to be presented by the boxer at their initial weigh-in.

Weigh-in dates:

November 11th – 14th                8.00am – 10.00am & 11.00am – 1.00pm

November 15th (Finals)          8.00am – 9.00am & 12.00pm – 1.00pm

Boxing: Times will be contingent on entries and shall be announced after the draw.

Duration:  Duration of rounds: Men & Women 3×3 Minutes

Weights:        

Men: 48kg, 51kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg, 63.5kg, 67kg, 71kg, 75kg, 80kg, 86kg, 92kg,  92+kg

Women: 48kg, 50kg, 52kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg, 63kg, 66kg, 70kg, 75kg, 81kg, 81+kg

Age Requirements:  Boxers born between 1984 and 2005.

It is a condition of entry that all competitors and officials have a signed Waiver/Members Acknowledgement Form and adhere to any agreement made with the Association sponsors. This document also stipulates requirements in relation to conduct throughout the championships, and social media It is the duty and responsibility of the National Registrar to withdraw any boxer deemed to be insufficiently experienced for Elite level competition, with reference to the boxer’s Boxing Record book.

PRO WRAPS Are permitted. Boxers with pro-wraps hands must present them to an official, as directed by the National Registrar, for inspection before competing.

HEADGUARDS: As per Article 46 of the IBA Technical and Competition rules: Headguards are removed from Women’s Elite Competitions, this also includes our National Elite Championships.

Anti-Doping may be carried out at any stage of the championships and all boxers must advise the doctor of any medication they are taking or have taken in the preceding 4 weeks. It is imperative that all boxers adhere to the Anti-Doping Rules and Regulations. For any queries regarding this matter, boxers/coaches should contact Mr Larry Morrison, IBA Anti-Doping Officer on 086-0292476.

Non Pregnancy Declaration forms must be signed.

Attire: Boxers shall have one red and one blue vest. In accordance with IBA Technical and Competition rule 48.7, boxers may wear form fitting arm / and or leg coverings. Hair must be tied back and hairnets or swimming caps should be worm under head gear for boxers with long hair. NO red, orange or pink gumshields are allowed.  A boxer can have a beard and moustache, but either must not cover the neck and must not be longer than 10cm, in accordance with IBA Technical and Competition rule 4.2.5.2.2

Coaches: They must wear track suitsandrunners at all sessions and endeavour to set a high standard of hygiene in the corners. No shorts, caps or hats are allowed.

Sportsmanship: All decisions must be accepted in a sporting manner. Any complaints must be addressed to the Chief Official, Mr. Philip Rooney. Please show respect to all Ringside Officials. A document stipulating requirements in relation to conduct and the use of social media must be signed by all boxers and coaches at their initial weigh-in.

Please Note:

  • Referees & Judges for the Elite Championships will not be allowed enter the field of play as a coach with their club boxer.
  • All Referee & Judges must bring their record book.
  • Please ensure when entering your boxer into Blocworx, that your Boxers email address is also entered to give the boxers direct access to information on the selection policy or the nomination declaration process.

Lawless claims her second World medal

Team Ireland’s Siofra Lawless has today claimed her second World level medal.

The 2023 World Junior champion contested her World Youth Championship quarter final today, against Uzbekistan’s Odinakhon Ismoilova.

Siofra, in her typical fashion, was the dominant boxer throughout the bout, winning on all scorecards in the first, and forcing two standing counts in the second round. In the third round, the contest was stopped and her hand was raised. This is the second bout in this championship that Siofra has won by RSC. She boxes to up-grade her medal in Thursday’s semi finals, against Kazakhstan’s Aruzhan Zhangabayeva.

This tournament is the pinnacle of competition for boxers of this age group. 660 boxers from 88 national federations will represent their countries at the championship, which is being hosted by the Montenegro Boxing Federation from October 20th to November 6th. November 1st will be a rest day at the tournament, and all finals will be boxed on November 2nd and 3rd. The competition schedule is available here

This is a biannual tournament and was last contested by Ireland in La Nucia, Spain, in November 2022. Ireland returned with 6 medals: Gold for 81kg Cliona D’Arcy and light heavy, Team Co-Captain Dearbhla Tinnelly, Lightweight Lee McEvoy, light middle Laura Moran and Team Co-Captain, welter Jim Donovan all came home with bronze medals.

All draw sheets, results and tournament schedules are available here

Day Eight

3 Team Ireland boxers contest quarter finals on Wednesday.

Team Captain, superheavy Adam Olaniyan, is the only Team Ireland boxer in action in the Afternoon Session. He contests for a medal against Hungary’s Brendon Nemeth in Bout 12 of Ring A

66kg Kyla Doyle opens proceedings in Ring B’s Evening Session, boxing Uzbekistan’s Rayhona Kurbonboeva. 8 bouts later, 57kg Jamie Graham seeks a podium place against Uzbekistan’s Samandar Olimov.

Watch

The Afternoon session begins at 1pm Irish time, and the Evening Session starts at 5pm.

Ring A

Ring B

Team Ireland

60kg Kayleigh Whelan, Avona BC, Dublin

63kg Siofra Lawless, Four Kings BC, Wicklow

66kg Kyla Doyle Byrne, Whitechurch BC Dublin

57kg Jamie Graham, Clonard BC, Belfast

60kg Martin McDonagh, Avona BC, Dublin

63.5kg Ryan Jenkins, Olympic BC Mullingar

71kg Tadhg O’Donnell, Four Kings BC, Wicklow

92+kg Adam Olaniyan, Jobstown BC, Dublin

Team Manager: Anna Moore

Coach Liam Cunningham

Coach Garry Kehoe

Coach Ralph McKay

Closing tomorrow: Phase Three Rules Consultation.

As pledged at the IABA EGM on 12 October, a third phase of consultation on the IABA Rulebook opened on October 16th, and closes on Wednesday.

A two- phase formal consultation on the revision of the rulebook took place in November-December 2023 and June-July 2024. A 10-month information consultation was open between November 2023 and September 2024.

The revised rulebook was adopted by the Board of Directors on September 20th last – but member voting on adoption has been postponed to allow additional consultations with State Services: the Defence Forces, Gardai, the PSNI and Universities.

The consultation is now open to all members, through rules@iaba.ie for a two week period until 5pm on Wednesday, October 30th.

Thereafter, the Rules Committee will review all submissions and issue any amendments to all clubs by Wednesday, November 6th, for their consideration.

IABA Rulebook

2 more Team Ireland boxers through to World Youth Championship quarter finals.

Two more Team Ireland boxers have wone through to the quarter finals of the World Youth Championships.

Reigning European Youth champion, 66kg Kyla Doyle Byrne made very short work of her debut today at Last 16 stage, against Mexico’s Ximena Valencia Hernadaz. It was all over in one, in her favour, with an RSC after numerous standing counts. Kyla will contest for her second benchmark medal of the year against Uzbekistan’s Rayhona Kurbonboeva.

Two bouts later, 57kg Jamie Graham boxed his Last 16 bout against Hyok Ri of Korea. Jamie was elusive and high-tempo throughout the bout, and came away with an assured 5-0 win. Judges scored the bout 28:29; 28:29; 28:29; 27:30; 27: 30. He meets Uzbekistan’s Samandar Olimov his his QF.

In Ring B’s Evening Session, 60kg Martin McDonagh took on Russia’s Platon Kozlov – a tough and experienced opponent. Martin battled bravely throughout, but the decision went to Kozlov.

Kyla and Jamie join 63kg Siofra Lawless and 92+kg Team Captain Adam Olaniyan in the Quarter Finals, which begin on Tuesday and will be boxed across two days, concluding on Wednesday evening.

This tournament is the pinnacle of competition for boxers of this age group. 660 boxers from 88 national federations will represent their countries at the championship, which is being hosted by the Montenegro Boxing Federation from October 20th to November 6th. November 1st will be a rest day at the tournament, and all finals will be boxed on November 2nd and 3rd. The competition schedule is available here

This is a biannual tournament and was last contested by Ireland in La Nucia, Spain, in November 2022. Ireland returned with 6 medals: Gold for 81kg Cliona D’Arcy and light heavy, Team Co-Captain Dearbhla Tinnelly, Lightweight Lee McEvoy, light middle Laura Moran and Team Co-Captain, welter Jim Donovan all came home with bronze medals.

All draw sheets, results and tournament schedules are available here

Day Seven

63kg Siofra Lawless is the only Team Ireland boxer in action on Tuesday. She contests her quarter final against Uzbekistan’s Odinakhon Ismoilova. Both boxers are fresh from RSC2 wins in their last 16.

They meet in Bout 6 of Ring A’s Afternoon Session.

Watch

The Afternoon session begins at 1pm Irish time, and the Evening Session starts at 5pm.

Ring A

Ring B

Team Ireland

60kg Kayleigh Whelan, Avona BC, Dublin

63kg Siofra Lawless, Four Kings BC, Wicklow

66kg Kyla Doyle Byrne, Whitechurch BC Dublin

57kg Jamie Graham, Clonard BC, Belfast

60kg Martin McDonagh, Avona BC, Dublin

63.5kg Ryan Jenkins, Olympic BC Mullingar

71kg Tadhg O’Donnell, Four Kings BC, Wicklow

92+kg Adam Olaniyan, Jobstown BC, Dublin

Team Manager: Anna Moore

Coach Liam Cunningham

Coach Garry Kehoe

Coach Ralph McKay