Eugene McKeever has recorded victory in his opening 2024 European Championship bout in Belgrade.
He contested at against Poland’s Matesuz Daniel Urban in a testy bout, which went to a bout review before the declaration. The decision went to the Irishman, 4-3. The judges scored the bout 29:28; 28:29; 28:29; 28:29; 29:28.
Reigning lightweight Olympic champion and Paris Olympian, Kellie Harrington, has a bye to the quarter finals – she’ll face either Italy’s Rebecca Nicoli or Turkey’s Ozer Gizem in a bout for a podium place on Tuesday. Team flag bearer, 66kg Lisa O’Rourke, also has a bye, and will contest her quarter final on the same day, against Slovakia’s Jessica Triebelov. Lisa’s sister, double Olympian Aoife O’Rourke is also in quarter final action on the 23rd, contesting against the winner of the preliminary bout between Hungary and Poland. Paris Olympian, 63.5kg Dean Clancy has a bye to the second series preliminaries, and contests his opening bout on Sunday against IBA boxer, Abdul Fawaz Abo.
50kg Shannon Sweeney opens her campaign against Russia’s Geliusa Galieva at the preliminaries stage on Monday. On the same day and session (evening), 54kg Niamh Fay will begin her championships also against Russian opposition, in the form of Karina Tazabekova. Double Olympian, 57kg Michaela Walsh meets France’s Sthelyne Grosy in her opening bout, also on Monday.
401 boxers from 38 federations will contest the championships. The draw takes place on April 18th; April 26th is a rest day, and finals will be boxed on April 28th.
Prize money will be awarded in all weight categories, from quarter finalists to champions. Those finishing at the QF stage will receive $1,000; bronze medalists will be awarded $5,000 apiece. Winning silver means a $10,000 award, and champions will get $15,000.
Day Four
Eugene is back in the ring on Sunday – he meets Azerbaijan’s Ailyev Sharkan in his second series preliminary in Bout 6 of Ring B’s evening session.
Also back for a second bout is 57kg Adam Hession; he is in against Belgium’s Vasile Usturoi in the opening bout of Ring B’s Afternoon Session.
Making his debut at the tournament on Sunday is Paris Olympian, 63.5kg Dean Clancy, who boxes IBA’s, Abdul Fawaz Aborode in Bout 2 of Ring B’s Evening Session.
Afternoon Sessions begin at 2pm, Irish time, while evening sessions get underway at 4.45pm.
Programme
Watch
Ring A
Ring B
Team
50kg Shannon Sweeney, St. Anne’s BC, Mayo
54kg Niamh Fay, Phoenix of Ballyboughal BC, Dublin
57kg Michaela Walsh, Holy Family GG, Belfast
60kg Kellie Harrington, St. Mary’s BC, Tallaght, Dublin
66kg Lisa O’Rourke, Castlerea BC, Roscommon
75kg Aoife O’Rourke, Castlerea BC, Roscommon
51kg Rickey Nesbitt, Holy Family BC, Drogheda
57kg Adam Hession, Monivea BC, Galway
63.5kg Dean Clancy, Sean McDermott BC, Leitrim
71kg Eugene McKeever, Holy Family, Drogheda
92kg Jack Marley, Monkstown BC, Dublin
Draws are available here
Day One results are available here
Day Two results are available here
Session 5A results
Session 6B results
Session 7A results
Session 8B results