Ireland have beaten Wales, 10 bouts to 4, following a scintilating night of boxing in a Youth International at the historic Guildhall

This is the first Youth international to take place since March 2023, when Ireland took on England in a dual nations following a training camp in Ballina, Co. Mayo. The last Elite international, when Ireland met Ukraine, took place in Castlerea, Co. Roscommon, in April 2024, also following a training camp.

Ireland last met Wales in a dual nations in February, 2022, in a predominantly Youth programme. That ended in 5 wins, apiece, for each federation.

This international is kindly supported by Derry Credit Union, Tyrone and Fermanagh County Board Board and Donegal County Boxing Board

Organisers would like to extend their gracious thanks to Dr. McKenna for ringside medical services, Jamm for hospitality, Pulse for providing security and photographer, Peter McKane

Suporting Contests

39 kg Tony Cox, St. Joseph’s wsa the 3-2 winner over Aidan Moore, Deaglan

54kg  Conan Mc Sorley 2 Castles was the 4-0 winner over Oisin Kernan of Olympic BC Mullingar. This bout was kindly supported by Tyrone County Board and Paul Mayse

48kg Caoimhin Connelly Twin Towns was the 4-1 winner over Harley Salinger, Sacred Heart Dublin. This bout was kindly supported by Donegal County Board and Peter O Donnell.

Ireland V Wales

46kg Ava McCabe, Jobstown BC, Dublin beat Tyler Harris, Wales, 5-0

48kg Abbey Molloy, Sacred Heart Boxing Club Dublin beat Lacey Dalling, Wales, AB2

50kg Angelina Rees, Wales beat Skye Ward, Neilstown BC, Dublin, 5-0

51kg Michael Reilly, St. Paul’s Boxing Club, Waterford beat Gavin Alexander, Wales, 5-0

52kg Kayleigh Byrne, Gorey BC, Wexford beat Skye Taylor, Wales, 4-1

54kg James McCann, St. Monica’s ABC, Newry beat Reon Wright, Wales, 3-2

54kg Ffion Evans, Wales beat Elma Barry, Setanta Boxing Academy, Kildare, 4-1

57kg Sean McCusker, Dealgan BC, Louth beat Troy Hayer, Wales, 4-1

57kg Grace Conway, Tredagh Boxing Academy, Louth beat Ellie Cain, Wales, 4-0

60kg Alfie Lewis, Wales beat Daniel Hunter, Corpus Christi ABC, Belfast, 4-1

67kg John Donoghue, Olympic Boxing Club, Westmeath beat Kai Powell, Wales, RSC3

71kg Rati Abulzade, Togher BC, Cork beat Sam Mc Cann, Wales, 4-1

75kg Jason Whelan, Dublin Docklands BC beat Mitchell Jones, Wales, 4-0

80kg Patrick Price, Wales beat Chulainn McDonnell, Whitechurch BC, Dublin, 5-0

All images Peter McKane:

Ulster Development Exhibitions

Team Wales will travel from the Guildhall to Corpus Christ Boxing Club Belfast on Sunday March 2nd, for a series of development-focused exhibition bouts.

Boxing begins at 12pm.

	Supporting Exhibitions
54kg	Jerry McCann		Corpus Christi	V	Oscar Brown		Star
57kg	Eli Spence		Corpus Christi	V	John Conway		Glengormley
39kg	Jude Reilly		Immaculata	V	Aidan Moore		Dealgan
54kg	Cormac Moore		Star	V	Conan Mc Sorely		Two Castles
	Ulster Vs Wales
46kg	Skye Leigh Haighton		Evolution	V	Tyler Harris		Wales
48kg	Carys Mc Fadden		Dunfanaghy	V	Lacey Dalling		Wales
50kg	Summer Fleming		Holy Trinity	V	Angelina Rees		Wales
51kg	Ben Millar		Erne	V	Gavin Alexander		Wales
52kg	Nadine Pearson		SJ Bosco D	V	Skye Taylor		Wales
54kg	Matthew Mc Donagh		Dukes	V	Reon Wright		Wales
54kg	Paige Nickles		Banbridge	V	Ffion Evans		Wales
57kg	Loughlinn Beagan		Sean Doran	V	Troy Hayer		Wales
57kg	Kerry Brown		Convoy	V	Ellie Cain		Wales
60kg	Aodhan Scott		Glengormley	V	Alfie Lewis		Wales
67kg	Sean Gray		Clonard	V	Kai Powell		Wales
71kg	Kane Brannigan		Lisburn	V	Sam McCann		Wales
75kg	Kieran Cunningham		Carndonagh	V	Mitchell Jones		Wales
80kg	Sean Doohan		Dunfanaghy	V	Patrick Price		Wales

Team Ireland will return from Europe’s oldest tournament with 5 medals, following the completion of all semi-finals.

222 athletes are contesting the the 76th Strandja Memorial Tournament: 143 men and 79 women boxers, from 22 federations, including Ireland: Algeria, Austrian,Azerbaijan, Bulgaria Chinese Taipei, China (Inner Mongolia), Croatia, Cyprus, England, France, Hungary, Greece, Georgia, Italy, Israel, Kosovo, Pakistan, Slovakia, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Wales.

Paris Olympian, 63.kg Dean Clancy, contested for finals berth against Mukhammedsabyr Bazarbayuulu of Kazakhstan, a fellow Paris Olympian, in a high tempo bout. The 4-1 split decision went to Bazarbayuulu. Dean comes home with bronze after three challenging bouts and two wins

Heavyweight and Paris alum, Jack Marley meets reigning Asian champ and fellow Olympian, Turabek Khabibullaev. This was a highly physical contest, which followed Jack’s win over China, and the decision went to Khabibullaev.

48kg Louis Rooney boxed for a medal up-grade against Uzbekistan’s Behruz Kholdorov – it wasn’t to be for the 2024 European U23 champ, in his first Strandja campaign. Team Captain, Adam Hession, met Tokyo Olympian and 2021 World medalist, Serik Temirzhanov of Kazakhstan -this was another highly physical contest, which went to the Kazakh. Adam, too, has had three tough bouts and two wins.

Yesterday, 48kg Ciara Walsh contested her semi final against Kazakhstan’s Aigerim Saattibayeva, and returns with bronze.

Medal ceremonies take place on Sunday.

Boxers who are the post-competition phase engaged in sparring today – including Team Ireland’s Jason Nevin, Patsy Joyce, Shannon Sweeney, Niamh Fay, Linda Desmond, Gus Ide and Gavin Rafferty. They sparred boxers from Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, England, China and Bulgaria

Team Ireland

48kg Ciara Walsh, Smithfield Boxing Club Dublin

50kg Shannon Sweeney, St. Anne’s BC, Westport Mayo

54kg Chloe Gabriel, Dublin Docklands BC

57kg Niamh Fay, Phoenix of Ballyboughal BC, Dublin

63kg Linda Desmond, Rylane BC, Cork

48kg Louis Rooney, Star ABC, Belfast

54kg Patsy Joyce, Olympic BC Mullingar

60kg Rhys Owens, Erne BC, Fermanagh

60kg Adam Hession, Monivea BC, Galway, Team Captain.

63.5kg Jason Nevin, Olympic BC Mullingar

63.5kg Dean Clancy, Sean McDermott BC, Leitrim

67kg Darren O’Connor, Olympic BC, Galway

75kg Gavin Rafferty, Dublin Docklands

75kg Josh Olaniyan, Jobstown BC, Dublin

80kg James Whelan, Dublin Docklands

86kg Brian Kennedy, St Brigid’s BC, Edenderry, Offaly

92kg Jack Marley, Monkstown BC, Dublin

92+kg Gus Ide, Crumlin BC, Dublin.

Team Manager: Sean Crowley

Head Coach: Zauri Antia

Coach: Lynne McEnery

Coach: Jay Delaney

Physio: Rob Tuomey

R&J: Mal Scott.

Drawsheets are available here

IABA’s Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Officer Patrick Adejayan, is providing comprehensive online Deaf Disability Awareness Training program, through a partnership with Deaf Sport Ireland.

Attendance for members has been fully funded by IABA’s Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Office.

This initiative aims to equip participants with essential knowledge and skills to better understand the challenges faced by individuals with hearing disabilities. Through a series of engaging modules, attendees will learn about effective communication strategies, the importance of accessibility, and ways to create a more inclusive environment. By investing in this training, IABA reinforces its commitment to fostering a diverse community where everyone feels valued and respected.

Attendees will be engaged through interactive group work and theory content and will be introduced to adaptation tools. These tools will be applied to a variety of games and activities to make them inclusive for all ability groups.

After completing the workshop, participants will receive a Certificate of Attendance and a resource manual for inclusive activities.

Registration

The workshop will take place online from 6 pm to 8 pm on Monday the 10th of March 2025

Intending participants can register here: https://shout.com/s/3hEi1WNA

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

A total of 17 bouts will be boxed on the Ireland V Wales international taking place at the Guildhall, Derry, tonight.

Three supporting contests will be boxed before the main card as part of this key development event for the boxing stars of the future.

This is the first Youth international to take place since March 2023, when Ireland took on England in a dual nations following a training camp in Ballina, Co. Mayo. The last Elite international, when Ireland met Ukraine, took place in Castlerea, Co. Roscommon, in April 2024, also following a training camp.

Ireland last met Wales in a dual nations in February, 2022, in a predominantly Youth programme. That ended in 5 wins, apiece, for each federation.

Tickets:

• Adults: €20
• Children, under 16: €10
• Club bundles: 10 tickets €150/£150

Location

The Guildhall, BT48 7BB

Doors open at 6pm.

This international is kindly supported by Derry Credit Union, Tyrone and Fermanagh County Board Board and Donegal County Boxing Board

Supporting Contests:

39 kg Tony Cox, St. Joseph’s V Aidan Moore, Deaglan

54kg  Conan Mc Sorley 2 Castles V James McGuinness St Monica’s. This bout is kindly supported by Tyrone County Board and Paul Mayse

48kg Caoimhin Connelly Twin Towns V Harley Salinger, Sacred Heart Dublin. This bout is kindly supported by Donegal County Board and Peter O Donnell.

Ireland V Wales

46kg Ava McCabe, Jobstown BC, Dublin V Tyler Harris, Wales

48kg Abbey Molloy, Sacred Heart Boxing Club Dublin V Lacey Dalling, Wales

50kg Skye Ward, Neilstown BC, Dublin V Angelina Rees, Wales

51kg Michael Reilly, St. Paul’s Boxing Club, Waterford V Gavin Alexander, Wales

52kg Kayleigh Byrne, Gorey BC, Wexford V Skye Taylor, Wales

54kg James McCann, St. Monica’s ABC, Newry V Reon Wright, Wales

54kg Elma Barry, Setanta Boxing Academy, Kildare V Ffion Evans, Wales

57kg Sean McCusker, Dealgan BC, Louth V Troy Hayer, Wales

57kg Grace Conway, Tredagh Boxing Academy, Louth V Ellie Cain, Wales

60kg Daniel Hunter, Corpus Christi ABC, Belfast V Alfie Lewis, Wales

67kg John Donoghue, Olympic Boxing Club, Westmeath V Kai Powell, Wales

71kg Rati Abulzade, Togher BC, Cork V Sam Mc Cann, Wales

75kg Jason Whelan, Dublin Docklands BC V Mitchell Jones, Wales

80kg Chulainn McDonnell, Whitechurch BC, Dublin V Patrick Price, Wales

Ulster Development Exhibitions

Team Wales will travel from the Guildhall to Corpus Christ Boxing Club Belfast on Sunday March 2nd, for a series of development-focused exhibition bouts.

Boxing begins at 12pm.

	Supporting Exhibitions
54kg	Jerry McCann		Corpus Christi	V	Oscar Brown		Star
57kg	Eli Spence		Corpus Christi	V	John Conway		Glengormley
39kg	Jude Reilly		Immaculata	V	Aidan Moore		Dealgan
54kg	Cormac Moore		Star	V	Conan Mc Sorely		Two Castles
	Ulster Vs Wales
46kg	Skye Leigh Haighton		Evolution	V	Tyler Harris		Wales
48kg	Carys Mc Fadden		Dunfanaghy	V	Lacey Dalling		Wales
50kg	Summer Fleming		Holy Trinity	V	Angelina Rees		Wales
51kg	Ben Millar		Erne	V	Gavin Alexander		Wales
52kg	Nadine Pearson		SJ Bosco D	V	Skye Taylor		Wales
54kg	Matthew Mc Donagh		Dukes	V	Reon Wright		Wales
54kg	Paige Nickles		Banbridge	V	Ffion Evans		Wales
57kg	Loughlinn Beagan		Sean Doran	V	Troy Hayer		Wales
57kg	Kerry Brown		Convoy	V	Ellie Cain		Wales
60kg	Aodhan Scott		Glengormley	V	Alfie Lewis		Wales
67kg	Sean Gray		Clonard	V	Kai Powell		Wales
71kg	Kane Brannigan		Lisburn	V	Sam McCann		Wales
75kg	Kieran Cunningham		Carndonagh	V	Mitchell Jones		Wales
80kg	Sean Doohan		Dunfanaghy	V	Patrick Price		Wales

Team Ireland’s Ciara Walsh will come home from the 76th Strandja Memorial Tournament with a bronze medal.

222 athletes are contesting the competion: 143 men and 79 women boxers, from 22 federations, including Ireland: Algeria, Austrian,Azerbaijan, Bulgaria Chinese Taipei, China (Inner Mongolia), Croatia, Cyprus, England, France, Hungary, Greece, Georgia, Italy, Israel, Kosovo, Pakistan, Slovakia, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Wales.

The 48kg boxer contested her semi final against Kazakhstan’s Aigerim Saattibayeva in a tight, high-tempo bout in which Saattibayeva was warned for holding, and a point was deducted from Walsh for the same. The Kazakh boxer progresses to the final.

Boxers who are the post-competition phase engaged in sparring today – including Team Ireland’s Shannon Sweeney, Niamh Fay, Linda Desmond, Gus Ide and Brian Kennedy. They sparred boxers from France, Hungary, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan and Austria.

Day Six

Saturday is Men’s Semi Final Day.

Paris Olympian, 63.kg Dean Clancy, contests for a finals berth against Mukhammedsabyr Bazarbayuulu of Kazakhstan, a fellow Paris Olympian. That’s Bout 6 of the Afternoon Session.

6 contests later, in Bout 12, heavyweight and Paris alum, Jack Marley meets reigning Asian champ and fellow Olympian, Turabek Khabibullaev.

48kg Louis Rooney will box for a medal up-grade against Uzbekistan’s Behruz Kholdorov – that bout opens procedings in the Evening Session.

Team Captain, Adam Hession, meets Tokyo Olympian and 2021 World medalist, Serik Temirzhanov of Kazakhstan – that’s Bout 6.

Programme

Watch

The Bulgarian Boxing Federation is streaming the tournament live on its YouTube channel. Links, per ring and session, will be published on the day of boxing.

Boxing in the Afternoon Session begins at 12pm, Irish time, while the evening sessions gets underway at 3.30pm.

Team Ireland

48kg Ciara Walsh, Smithfield Boxing Club Dublin

50kg Shannon Sweeney, St. Anne’s BC, Westport Mayo

54kg Chloe Gabriel, Dublin Docklands BC

57kg Niamh Fay, Phoenix of Ballyboughal BC, Dublin

63kg Linda Desmond, Rylane BC, Cork

48kg Louis Rooney, Star ABC, Belfast

54kg Patsy Joyce, Olympic BC Mullingar

60kg Rhys Owens, Erne BC, Fermanagh

60kg Adam Hession, Monivea BC, Galway, Team Captain.

63.5kg Jason Nevin, Olympic BC Mullingar

63.5kg Dean Clancy, Sean McDermott BC, Leitrim

67kg Darren O’Connor, Olympic BC, Galway

75kg Gavin Rafferty, Dublin Docklands

75kg Josh Olaniyan, Jobstown BC, Dublin

80kg James Whelan, Dublin Docklands

86kg Brian Kennedy, St Brigid’s BC, Edenderry, Offaly

92kg Jack Marley, Monkstown BC, Dublin

92+kg Gus Ide, Crumlin BC, Dublin.

Team Manager: Sean Crowley

Head Coach: Zauri Antia

Coach: Lynne McEnery

Coach: Jay Delaney

Physio: Rob Tuomey

R&J: Mal Scott.

Drawsheets are available here