The first two speakers at IABA’s Club Forum, taking place on November 15^th, have been announced as High Performance Director Jon Mackey and Patrick Murphy of Branding Sport.

Jon will host a key discussion on Junior development…What is it we’re trying to achieve and Patrick will provide the key findings and strategic recommendations from the re-brand project so far.

Registration is available here https://shout.com/s/0XzEc5Jd and includes the facility for you and your club members to nominate topics for discussion that are important to you. Registration closes on November 10^th.

Boxer and Coach development are the topics registered clubs have most frequently shared that they wish to discuss – alongside boxing administrator development & education, Competitions – at all levels, Governance, International teams & events, Club support programmes, R&J education and development

The event is open to every affiliated club and provides the opportunity to debate, exchange ideas and elevate our sport, in a full day of in-depth discussion on youth development, coach education, R&J pathways, club support programmes, and governance. Up to four members of any affiliated club can attend.

Club Forum

Date: Saturday, November 15^th

Location: Ringside, at the National Stadium

Start time: 10am

End time: 4pm

Lunch provided

This Club Forum is the first step in our renewed commitment to openness, engagement, and regular communication with our members. The CEO has shared this letter with all clubs, units and members, and it’s attached.

The Boxing Congress will be held in the New Year where further discussion and formal votes on the IABA rule book may take place

Team Ireland will return from the European U15 Championships with a staggering 13 medals: 4 gold, 3 silver and 6 bronze. It’s an incredible feat.

Ireland finished 3rd in the final medals tally – England were first with 13 medals, of which 6 were gold, and Ukraine second: 20 medals, of which 5 were gold. Congratulations to every member of the team, the team leadership of Stephen Connolly and Bridget Scott, coaches coaches John Coffey, Sliabh Luachra BC, Kerry, Paul Simson, Saviours Crystal BC, Waterford, Tommy O’Donnell, Charleville BC, Cork Lynne McEnery, High Performance Unit R&J Karl McLoughlin, St. Catherine’s BC, Dublin and to the clubs and families of all team members.

Pa Casey, Sliabh Luachra BC, Kerry claimed the European U15 title at 44kg, following a stylish and dominant 5-0 win over Hasam Falah of Israel. Judges scored the bout 25:30; 27:30; 28:29; 27:30; 27:30. Pa’s path to the top of the podium has also included wins over Lativa, Poland and England. Pa has, in recognition of his performance throughout the tournament, been awarded Male Boxer of the Tournament.

Team Co-Captain Roisin Hegarty has been crowned 63kg champion of Europe following a dominat, assured performance against Tetiana Zvenihorodska of Ukraine. She was awarded the 5-0 decision in a superb display of boxing scored 27:30; 27:30; 27:30; 27:30; 27:30. Roisin’s path to the top of the podium included wins over Croatia, Turkey and Ukraine.

Kieran McDonagh has won the European U15 crown at 57kg, following a high-tempo high-octane final against Ukraine’s Mark Faniian, which the Galway boxer won on a split decision, scored 29:28; 29:28; 28:29; 27:30; 27:30. Kieran boxed his way to gold wins over Israel, Czech Republic and Ukraine.

And Thomas O’Reilly is the European U15 champion at 75kg – by way of 4-1 split in a physical, high-tempo final against Azerbaijan’s Yusif Aghakishiyev. Judges scored the bout 29:28; 29:28; 29:27; 29:28;
28:29. He fought his way to the podium with wins over England, Turkey and today, Azerbaijan.

48kg Macie Duffy O’Connor comes home with silver following a battling final against Georgia’s Elene Karchava. The split decision went to the Georgian boxer on a scoreline 30:27; 30:27; 30:27; 29:28; 28:29. Macie boxed her way to the second step on the podium with wins over with wins over Spain, Turkey and Scotland. Bout 10, 60kg Maicey Field contested against Ukraine’s Vira Vasylenko, where the split decision went to the Ukrainian boxer. Judges scored the bout 28:29; 29:28; 29:28; 29:28; 29:28. Maicey has had a superb Championships, with wins over Israel and Romania

42kg Ronan Charles contested against Mason Long of England in a real battle, from start to finish. The 5-0 decision went to the English boxer on scores of 27:30; 27:30; 28:29; 27:30; 27:30 and Ronan comes home with silver – His championship journey has included wins over Finland, Latvia and Romania.

52kg Ellie Curtain Murray, of Golden Gloves BC, Cork, 42kg Rosaletta Casey of Portlaoise BC, Loais, 40kg Ellie May Featherson of Mulhuddart BC, 48kg Zac Creighton of Avona BC, 52kg Patrick Hourican, Sean Doran’s BC, Armagh and 63kg Charlie Joyce Connolly, Jobstown BC, Dublin were all awarded their bronze medals during today’s finals.

Team Ireland R&J, Karl McLoughlin of St. Catherine’s BC Dublin, officiated at 91 bouts, in all – judging at 77 and refereeing 14.

Completed Men’s Drawsheets

Completed Women’s Drawsheets

Collected final tournament statistics

Team Ireland

40kg Ellie May Featherson, Mulhuddart BC, Dublin

40kg John Sweeney, Olympic BC, Galway

42kg Rosetta Casey, Portlaoise BC, Loais

42kg Ronan Charles, Mullingar Elite BC, Westmeath

44kg Ava Harford, Phoenix of Ballyboughal BC, Dublin

44kg Pa Casey, Sliabh Luachra BC, Kerry

46kg Kenia Flood Prado, Glasnevin BC, Dublin

48kg Macie Duffy O’Connor, Cabra BC, Dublin

48kg Zach Creighton, Avona BC, Dublin, Team Co-Captain

50kg Franky Mooney, Banbridge BC, Antrim

52kg Ellie Curtain Murray, Golden Gloves BC, Cork

52kg Patrick Hourican, Sean Doran’s BC, Armagh

54kg Charley Scott, St Catherine’s BC, Dublin

57kg Kieran McDonagh, Olympic BC, Galway

60kg Maicey Field, Baldoyle BC, Dublin

63kg Charlie Joyce Connolly, Jobstown BC, Dublin

63kg Roisin Hegarty, Twin Towns BC, Donegal, Team Co-Captain

66kg Eddie Sweeney, Galway BC

75kg Thomas O’Reilly, Portlaoise BC, Loais

Team Managers: Stephen Connolly & Bridget Scott

Coaches:

John Coffey, Sliabh Luachra BC, Kerry,

Paul Simson, Saviours Crystal BC, Waterford

Tommy O’Donnell, Charleville BC, Cork

Lynne McEnery, High Performance Unit.

R&J Karl McLoughlin, St. Catherine’s BC, Dublin

A remarkable 7 Team Ireland boxers have won through to the finals of the European U15 Championships in Budva.

Ireland will finish joint second in the “raw” medals table. Ukraine is in first place with 19 medals and Ireland joint second on 13 with England. The finalised medals table, which takes account of the number of gold, silver and bronze medals per team, will be released after tomorrow’s finals.

42kg Ronan Charles has up-graded to at least a silver. He was the unanimous decision winner of his semi-final against Romania’s Ioan Auras Cantar – 27:30; 27:30; 28:29; 28:29; 28:29. Ronan boxes his final on Saturday, against the Mason Long of England.

44kg Pa Casey is, at minimum, a silve medalist, follow his UD win over England’s Thomas Catanach in his semi final – setting up a match with Hasam Falah of Israel. Judges scored the bout 27:30; 27:30; 27:30; 27:30; 27:30.

57kg Kieran McDonagh has swopped bronze for silver by way of a 3-2 split decision win over Czech Republic’s Rene Polak in a tumultuous semi-final scored 30:27; 28:29; 29:28; 28:29; 30:27. Kieran will take on Ukraine’s Mark Faniian Mark tomorrow.

48kg Macie Duffy O’Connor will come home with at least silver following her 5-0 semi final win over Scotland’s England’s Jenna Dally. Judges scored the bout 29:28; 30:27; 30:27; 30:27; 30:27. Macie will box for gold against Georgia’s Elene Karchava.

75kg Thomas O’Reilly has stepped further up the podium with his 5-0 winover Yenerhan Eroglu of Turkey. Judges scores were: 30:27; 30:26; 30:26; 30:27; 30:27. He’s boxing for gold against Azerbaijan’s Yusif Aghakishiyev

Team Co-Captain 48kg Zac Creighton of Avona BC will come home with bronze. He battled a hair’s breadth close semi-final against Vakaris Kiseliunas of Lithuania and the 3-2 decision went to his opponent. The final scores were 28:29; 29:28; 28:29; 29:28; 29:28. Zac has had a great championships, with wins over Israel and Latvia

52kg Patrick Hourican of Sean Doran’s BC, Armagh will bring home bronze. He fought a brave semi-final against Georgia’s Giorgi Akhveldiani. The 5-0 decision went to his opponent on a scoreline of 27:30; 27:30; 27:30; 28:29; 27:30. Patrick has had an excellent championships, recording wins over Hungary and Romania. While 63kg Charlie Joyce Connolly, Jobstown BC, Dublin will also come home with bronze. He contested his semi final against Zidane Tazeem of England and the 5-0 decision went to his opponent – the final scores were 28:29; 28:29; 28:29; 28:29; 27:30. Charlie has had a great tournament, with a quarter final win over Lithuania.

There has also been plenty of key developmental sparring for five post competition Team Ireland boxers on the margins of the tournament, including against  Latvia, Germany and Turkey.

Finals

7 Team Ireland boxers vie for gold in Saturday’s finals. The Afternoon Session begins at 11am, and the Evening Session gets underway at 4pm.

48kg Macie Duffy O’Connor is first of the team in action – she boxes Georgia’s Elene Karchava in Bout 5 of the Afternoon Session. Five bouts later, in Bout 10, 60kg Maicey Field contests against Ukraine’s Vira Vasylenko – in the subsequent bout, 63kg Roisin Hegarty boxes Tetiana Zvenihorodska of Ukraine

42kg Ronan Charles contests against Mason Long of England in Bout 2 of the Evening Session. In the subsequent bout, 44kg Pa Casey vies for gold against Hasam Falah of Israel – and 57kg Kieran McDonagh takes on Ukraine’s Mark Faniian in Bout 9. Five bouts later, 75kg Thomas steps between the ropes against Azerbaijan’s Yusif Aghakishiyev.

52kg Ellie Curtain Murray, of Golden Gloves BC, Cork, 42kg Rosaletta Casey of Portlaoise BC, Loais, 40kg Ellie May Featherson of Mulhuddart BC, 48kg Zac Creighton of Avona BC, 52kg Patrick Hourican, Sean Doran’s BC, Armagh and 63kg Charlie Joyce Connolly, Jobstown BC, Dublin will all receive their bronze medals.

The finals programme is availble here

Watch

European Boxing is live-streaming the tournament on its YouTube channel, here. Links, per session, will be published on the day of boxing.

Team Ireland

40kg Ellie May Featherson, Mulhuddart BC, Dublin

40kg John Sweeney, Olympic BC, Galway

42kg Rosetta Casey, Portlaoise BC, Loais

42kg Ronan Charles, Mullingar Elite BC, Westmeath

44kg Ava Harford, Phoenix of Ballyboughal BC, Dublin

44kg Pa Casey, Sliabh Luachra BC, Kerry

46kg Kenia Flood Prado, Glasnevin BC, Dublin

48kg Macie Duffy O’Connor, Cabra BC, Dublin

48kg Zach Creighton, Avona BC, Dublin, Team Co-Captain

50kg Franky Mooney, Banbridge BC, Antrim

52kg Ellie Curtain Murray, Golden Gloves BC, Cork

52kg Patrick Hourican, Sean Doran’s BC, Armagh

54kg Charley Scott, St Catherine’s BC, Dublin

57kg Kieran McDonagh, Olympic BC, Galway

60kg Maicey Field, Baldoyle BC, Dublin

63kg Charlie Joyce Connolly, Jobstown BC, Dublin

63kg Roisin Hegarty, Twin Towns BC, Donegal, Team Co-Captain

66kg Eddie Sweeney, Galway BC

75kg Thomas O’Reilly, Portlaoise BC, Loais

Team Managers: Stephen Connolly & Bridget Scott

Coaches:

John Coffey, Sliabh Luachra BC, Kerry,

Paul Simson, Saviours Crystal BC, Waterford

Tommy O’Donnell, Charleville BC, Cork

Lynne McEnery, High Performance Unit.

R&J Karl McLoughlin, St. Catherine’s BC, Dublin

Double Olympic champion, Kellie Harrington, has confirmed she will return to the ring, competitively, at the 2026 National Elite Championships.

The Tokyo and Paris lightweight champion announced her retirement in the Roland Garros Stadium after successfully defending her title, but has remained in training.

High Performance Director Jon Mackey says “IABA’s High Performance Unit has supported Kellie with an individualized training programme over the last year as she tapered down post-Paris, which assisted her in working with teammates and High Performance coaches. She’s remained active, and very much part of High Performance life over the last 12 months . We’re delighted Kellie has made the decision to return to the ring, and contest for her 12th Elite title next January at the home of Irish Boxing, and to prepare for that with a special event at the Mansion House on December 2nd. We’ve supported Kellie through every decision she’s made about her career over the last 15 years, and we’re honoured to continue to do so.”

Kellie will headline a spectacular showcase this December, boxing Italy’s Rebecca Nicoli. Also announced on the evening’s card are Paris Olympian Jack Marley and Elite athlete, 50kg Sean Mari.

Tickets are available here

Belfast City Council has honoured two Belfast Boxing Clubs and their former member, now World Champion, Lewis Crocker.

Lewis, the newly crowned IBF World Welterweight Champion, was accorded a special civic reception in City Hall last night, hosted by Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Tracy Kelly, to mark his recent achievements in the boxing ring – he claimed the vacant belt when he beat Paddy Donovan by way of a split decision in a dramatic rematch at Windsor Park in September.

Lewis was formerly a member of Cairn Lodge and Holy Trinity Boxing Clubs, and young members of both clubs were invited to attend the cross-community event.

Lewis Crocker said: “It’s always special to be at events like this. Growing up in Sandy Row, you don’t think you’re going to be coming to City Hall to speak to young kids and other boxers about your journey, so I’m thankful and grateful to be here.”

“It’s been a long journey to become world champion, a lot of sacrifices have been made to make it to this point, and I’m already starting to focus on what I need to do to make it to the next stage of my career.”