The Olympic future of Ireland’s most successful Olympic sport is assured today, with confirmation that the Irish Athletic Boxing Association has joined World Boxing.

World Boxing’s membership has now surpassed the landmark of 100 members after its Executive Board approved the applications of 17 National Federations, to take its total to 106 countries. Alongside IABA, federations including Cuba, Spain, Mexico, Saudia Arabia, UAE, Uganda and Venezuela are joining WB.

Chair of IABA’s Board of Directors, Niall O’Carroll, says “This is a watershed moment for Irish Boxing, following the resounding “yes” of member clubs to safeguarding our Olympic future at our EGM in April. Every kid in every boxing club in the Association deserves the Olympic dream – and their clubs have made sure that dream can live on, to LA 2028 and beyond.

The pace of World Boxing’s growth, from 6 members in August 2023 to almost 90 today, is testament to the focus of its leadership team on process, performance and the Olympic spirit. In that time, WB has scaled from a handful of members to organisation at confederation level on four continents, with full calendars of World and confederation level championships at all age groups. It’s a remarkable achievement, and one IABA is proud to now be part of”

IABA President, Anto Donnelly, says “This is a red letter day for the Irish Boxing family, and all the more important because our membership of World Boxing was the express will and wish of IABA’s clubs. It’s vital that we move forward, together. Our joining of World Boxing today represents the unity of Irish boxing,  but also the value we place on our Olympic heritage and our Olympic future. No club knows when the Olympic medalists of the future will walk through their doors – and its in support of that possibility, in support of that dream, that we have such a comprehensive volunteer-led underage training and competition programmes at local, regional, national and international levels. With World Boxing, we can continue to strive to build on our standing as Ireland’s most successful Olympic sport.

The President of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst, says: “To have surpassed the landmark of 100 National Federations in just over two years is a massive achievement and I would like to thank all of my colleagues and every one of our members for their support and their commitment to ensuring that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic Movement.

Ireland will take on Austria in a keynote Elite International in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, on Friday, and the Ireland team has been named.

It includes boxers from Donegal, Dublin, Fermanagh, Galway, Leitrim, Offaly, Sligo and Westmeath.

Team Ireland

57kg Gavin Ryan (Ratoath GG, Co. Meath)v Michel Marinkovic, AUS

60kg Lee McEvoy (Avona BC, Dublin)  v Mert Ayan, AUS

60kg Rhys Owens (Erne BC, Fermanagh) v Muhammedali Ismaylov, AUS

67kg Luke Hall (Rochfortbridge BC, Westmeath) v Alfred Nana, AUS

71kg Matthew McCole (Illies GG, Co. Donegal) v Rahman Altamirov, AUS

75kg Gavin Rafferty (Dublin Docklands BC) v Mailk Kahngariev, AUS

84kg Jason Clancy (Sean McDermott BC, Leitrim) v Lucky Aimufa, AUS

86kg Brian Kennedy (St. Brigid’s BC, Edenderry) v Micael Derouchie, AUS

Supporting contests:

Ben Millar (Erne BC, Fermanagh) v Jack Willis

Cameron Suttle (Erne BC, Fermanagh) v Damien Creavin (Olympic BC, Galway)

Anthony Malanaphy (Erne BC, Fermanagh) v Naoise McManus (Drumsna BC, Sligo)

This is the fourth international to take place to date in 2025, following the hosting by Central Council of 3 Youth internationals against Wales, and France/India, in March. These took place in Derry, at the National Stadium, and at Holy Family Boxing Club, Drogheda.

This May 23rd international will feature 8 bouts, and three supporting contests. It is being hosted by Erne Boxing Club, as part of a pilot project. The International will be followed, on the morning of May 24th, by a High Performance Coaching Seminar, led by National Performance Head Coach Zauri Antia

Structure

This is a pilot project, and a collaboration between High Performance Unit and Central Council. The structure involves a club, county board or provincial unit, in this case Erne BC, hosting the International, and making provision for a High Performance Seminar the morning after the International.

The host unit makes all of the local arrangements, including transport, food, board and venue for the International and the HP seminar, and retains all revenue raised on the door, less any attendant expenses. This pilot structure has the capacity to enable the holding of more Internationals, across all age groups and throughout the Association – which will have the net effect of increasing development opportunities for boxers and the staging of high quality boxing events in areas other than Dublin.

Following review of this pilot structure, Central Council may elect to make host bidding available to all club, county board and provincial units, subject to certain criteria.

Tickets

Tickets are limited to 250 and available through Erne Boxing Club or The Westville Hotel, Enniskillen, BT74 6HR. Please contact Greg Copeland on +44 7516 368421

Tickets are priced at £25 for adults & £15 for children aged under 16 . All IABA members get 20% discount price of £20 for adults & £10 for children under 16

High Performance Coaching Seminar

A High Performance Coaching Seminar will take place from 10am on the morning following the Ireland V Austria International, May 24th.

It will begin at 10am and will led by National Performance Head Coach Zauri Antia and HP Coaches, focusing on practical fundamentals skills.

The seminar is open to all members of succesfully affiliated clubs, but places are limited to 40.

Schedule

May 22nd: Team Austria arrives

May 23rd: Ireland v Austria Elite International: 7pm-11.30pm in The Westville Hotel, Enniskillen, BT74 6HR

May 24th: High Performance Coaching Seminar: From 10am, in Castlepark Leisure Centre, Lisnaskea, BT92 0JJ

May 24th: Sparring Session, 1pm-3pm at Erne Boxing Clubs, Lisnaskea

May 25th: Team Austria departs

IABA’s Diversity, Equality & Inclusion Officer, Patrick Adejayan, has commissioned a series of online Autism in Sport and Disability Inclusion workshops to be delivered by Active Disability Ireland.

These workshops are designed to provide a better understanding of Autism and Disability Inclusion focusing on the delivery of boxing.

The workshops will also help participants to recognise and understand key areas of difference as well as looking at practical strategies which will help to include people with disabilities and autism in sport sessions.  The cost is €20 for IABA Members through the online platform.

Workshops will be taking place on the following dates:

Saturday May 24^th, Disability Inclusion Training: 10 am to 1pm

Tuesday May 27^th, Disability Inclusion Training: 6 pm to 9pm

Saturday May 31^st, Autism in Sport Training: 10 am to 1pm

Tuesday June 3^rd, Autism in Sport Training: 6pm to 9pm

Registration

Registration is available here: https://shout.com/s/Qsp1bqQ6

Places are limited. If you register for a place on this course and cannot attend, please advise IABA’s DEI Officer, Patrick Adejeyan through patrick.ad@iaba.ie so that your place can be offered to an IABA member on the waiting list.

There are 5 days remaining for the submission of entries to the 2025 National Elite Competition.

The competition is being held at World Boxing weights and will be a factor in selecting the Team Ireland team to contest the World Boxing World Championships in Liverpool, September 4^th to 14^th.

Venue: Girdwood Community Hub, 10 Girdwood Avenue, Belfast, Antrim, BT14 6EG
Dates: June 1st to 6th, dependent upon entries
Entries: A non–refundable entry fee of €20 applies, including in the event of a boxer withdrawal. Online entry, via the Blocworx portal, is open until 5pm sharp, on Friday, May 23rd. All fees must be paid by 5pm on May 23rd. Only boxers for whom entries have been completed and entry fees have been received will be allowed to box.

This event is not an Elite Championships. This Elite Competition is taking place in consideration of selection for the World Boxing World Championships, taking September 4-14, 2025. Given the time available for preparation and selection of athletes to contest the World Boxing World Championships, entry to this Elite Competition is considered an explicit statement by the boxer of their injury-free status, their fitness to compete and their preparedness to compete. It is on that basis that all entrants to the competition will be required to compete in order to be considered for selection for the World Boxing World Championships.

All competitors must sign and return the Declaration on page 4 of this circular to performance@iaba.ie and secretary@iaba.ie by close of entry in order to be considered for selection

Affiliated clubs wishing to enter boxers into the competition 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 can contact IABA staff, Sally Ann Kinch sally@iaba.ie or Ciara Plunkett, ciara@iaba.ie

Draw: Tuesday, May 27th, National Stadium Dublin. Only boxers entered through the Blocworx portal for whom fees are fully paid will be included in the draw.

Membership & Eligibility
All clubs are on notice of IABA Rule 6.5.i: “A club shall not include in its list of members the name of any person who is a member of any other club unless dual membership has been specially authorised by the IABA”; Accordingly, any club making an entry to the 2025 National Elite Competition affirms that the entrant is not a member of any other club, in any jurisdiction
Sport nationality eligibility is outlined in World Boxing’s Competition Rules, 2.3 & 2.4
In addition: 5.1.3. National Federations will ensure that their Boxers compete in World Boxing Competitions under the correct Sport Nationality, in accordance with these Rules.
5.1.4. National Federations are responsible to ensure the health, fitness and skill levels of the Boxers and other Team Members are sufficient to participate in World Boxing Competitions

Weigh-in and Medical:
Boxers will weigh daily on the days they box.
Boxing Record books will be presented by the boxer at their initial weigh-in.
Weigh-in Times: 8:00 to 9:00am

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

Duration:
Duration of rounds: Men & Women 3 x 3 Minutes
Age Requirements: Boxers born 1985 to 2006, inclusive.

Weights:
Men: 50kg, 55kg, 60kg, 65kg, 70kg, 75kg, 80kg, 85kg, 90kg, 90+kg
Women: 48kg, 51kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg, 65kg, 70kg, 75kg, 80kg, 80+kg

Non-Pregnancy Declarations forms must be signed by the boxer
Gumshields: Red/orange/pink or variations of these colours are not allowed.
Hair Must be tied back, and swimming hats or hairnets should be worn under the headgear for boxers with long hair.
Anti-Doping: Boxers must provide details of any medication they are taking or have taken in the preceding 4 weeks. Anti-Doping may be carried out at any stage of the competition.
Attention is called to the stipulation in the IABA Rule book that each boxer presented by his/her club shall be fit to box. This is the responsibility of the club.
President Anthony Donnolly, Vice President Eugene Duffy, Hon Secretary Tara Mari, Hon
Treasurer Larry Morrison, Hon Registrar Stephen Connolly
Coach Registration: via secretary@iaba.ie
Only registered coaches will be allowed to enter the field of play and/or changing rooms. Coach registration will be cross-checked against stated qualifications and Garda Vetting/Access NI checks. Any registered coaches who do not have current Garda Vetting/Access NI checks will not be permitted to sit at corner and/or to enter the changing rooms. Fundamental coaches will be permitted to do No. 2.
Attire: Coaches must wear tracksuits and runners in their corners at all sessions and set a high standard of hygiene. No shorts, caps or hats are allowed. Boxers may not wear international kit – boxers may wear club kit, only.

As the 2025 National Elite Competition form is a factor for team selection for international competition, all entrants must hold a current up to date Irish passport, with at least 6 months remaining to expiry. Please note that boxers born in Northern Ireland may choose to identify themselves as Irish or British or both in accordance with the provisions of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (more commonly known as the Good Friday Agreement).

Any misbehaviour or misuse of social media in a negative manner from members of any club relating to a boxer/coach/official will be referred to the IABA Discipline Officer under the IABA Complaints and Discipline Code, communicated to all clubs on May 17th 2024.

N.B. It is a condition of entry that all boxers and their clubs have signed and submitted the Members Acknowledgement Form and it is the responsibility of the entering unit that this stipulation is complied with.

As this is a Competition and not a Championship, boxer entered are still eligible to Box as an Intermediate Boxer.
Sportsmanship: All decisions must be accepted in a sporting manner. Any complaints must be addressed to the Chief Official, National Registrar Mr. Stephen Connolly. Please show respect to all Ringside Officials

Championship Circular

Provisional programmes are now available for the remaining days of boxing of the 2025 National Senior Cadet Championships.

Results, Saturday May 17th

Boy 3 Final

95kg    Patrick Sweeney (Ennis) beat Peter Jakab (Newington), RSC1

2025 National Senior Cadet Quarter & Semi Finals.

39kg   Christy Nevin (Mullingar Shuffler) beat Cahir Burke (St Canices), 4-1

42kg   Rylee Finn (St Nicholas) W/O

42kg   Pat Stokes (Olympic L) beat Aidan Moore (Dealgan), 5-0

42kg   Harry Reddington (Cherry Orchard) beat Jude Reilly (Immaculata), 5-0

44kg   Calvin Stokes (Olympic L) beat James Walsh (Ballybrack), 5-0

44kg   Colin O’Brien (Ballymun)  beat Jimmy Sweeney (All Stars), 5-0

44kg   Martin Ward (Oakleaf) beat Paul O’Halloran (Muskerry), 5-0

46kg   Martin Nevin (Mullingar Shufflers) beat Nicholas O’Rourke (St Marys NR) RSC3

46kg   Ryan Cowzer (Rush) W/O

48kg   Jack Delaney (Baldoyle) beat Paul Lavin (Ballinamore), 5-0

48kg   Aodh Carlyle (Golden Cobra) beat Harry Phyers (St Abbans/Kilmyshall), 4-1

50kg   Alanna Murphy (Ballybrack) beat Daisy Kiernan (Dealgan), 3-2

50kg   Jack Jones (Sacred Heart D) beat John Buston O’Driscoll (Treaty), 5-0

50kg   Ryan Moore (Cherry Orchard) W/O

50kg   Sean Kelly (St Abbans/Kilmyshall) beat Shane Mullaney (Swinford), RSC1

50kg   Se O’Neill (St Canices) beat Cian Smyth (Tredagh), 4-1

52kg   Carly O’Herrin (Rochfordbridge) beat Akvile Siupieniute (Spartacus), 5-0

52kg   Aliegha Murphy (Ballybrack) beat Milena Lucaci (Lucan), 5-0

52kg   Lee Largey Snodden (Immaculata) beat Tom Duffy (St Marys NR), RSC2

54kg   Paige Nickels (Banbridge) beat Cadhla Gilhooley (Olympic L), 5-0

54kg   Ella Archbold (Ballybrack) beat Bernadette Delaney (Corpus Christi M), 5-0

54kg   Conan McSorley (Two Castles) beat Bernie McDonagh (Galway), 3-2

54kg   Michael McDonagh (Avona) beat Charlie Flanagan (Tredagh) RSC2

60kg   Jason Donoghue (Olympic L)  beat Padraig Walsh (Immaculata), 5-0

60kg   Tyler Waldron (Castlerea) W/O

60kg   Kian O’Sullivan (Conamara) W/O

60kg   Frankie Carragher (St Pats Newry) W/O

63kg   Ruby Cullen (Drimnagh) W/O

66kg   Alesha Mullis Boyle (Dungloe) beat Francis Bergin (Castlerea) RSC1

66kg   Niall O’Driscoll (Muskerry) beat Fabian Berko (Portlaoise), 5-0

66kg   Darren O’Toole (Jobstown) beat Ruairi Walker (Corpus Christi A), 4-1

70kg   Kaysie Joyce (Clonmel) beat Amy McDonagh (Castlerea), RSC2

70kg   Grace Bailey (Castlebar) beat Cassie Henderson (Phoenix), 5-0

Boxer Advisory

• The withdrawal of any boxer must be notified to the National Registrar Stephen Connolly, phone: 086 1546746.
• As the Cadet championships form a basis for team selection to international competition, please be aware that all entrants must hold a current up to date Irish passport, with at least 6 months remaining to expiry
• No international competition kits to be worn by any boxers; boxers may wear club kit, only
• Any club making an entry to the championships affirms that the entrant is not a member of any other club, in any jurisdiction.
• Any misbehaviour or misuse of social media in a negative manner from members of any club relating to a boxer/coach/official will be referred to the IABA Discipline Officer under the IABA Complaints and Discipline Code, communicated to all clubs on May 17th 2024.

Programmes: May 23rd and 24th

Weigh-ins: Friday: 8am to 9am and 12pm – 1pm and Saturday: 8am to 9am

All programmes are subject to change.

Provisional Programme: Finals, Friday May 30th from 6pm

Weigh-in: 8am to 9am and 12pm to 1pm.

All programmes are subject to change