WALSH BEATS WORLD CHAMPION AT EURO ELITES

Irish featherweight Michaela Walsh, pictured, sensationally beat Italy’s World Elite champion Alessia Mesiano at the European Women’s Elite Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria today.

The Belfast-born EU bantam champion earned a unanimous decision over the Italian No. 1 seed and current EU feather champion.

Walsh, who beat England’s Karriss Artingstal yesterday, will now meet Helina Bruyevich of Belarus in the quarter-finals with at least a bronze medal up for grabs.

Today’s win also qualifies Walsh for next year’s European Games in Belarus as the top ten boxers in her weight book tickets.

World Elite finalist Kellie Harrington and Grainne Walsh are in action in Sofia tomorrow.

European Women’s Elite Championships Sofia, Bulgaria

June 5

Last 32

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Karriss Artingstal (England) 5-0

June 6

Last 16

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Alessia Mesiano (Italy) 5-0

June 7

Last 16

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) v Katerina Humlova (Czech Republic)

69kg Grainne Walsh (Ireland) v Iaroslava Iakushina (Russia)

June 8

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) v Helina Bruyevich (Belarus)

Irish squad

57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown)
60kg Kellie Harrington (St Mary’s)
69kg Grainne Walsh (Sparticus)

Team Manager: Bernard Dunne
Head Coach: Zaur Antia
Coach: Dmitry Dmitruk

Physio: Muireann Harte