LIFFEY CRANE ELITE FINALS PROMOTIONAL LAUNCH

IABA News

Some of the world’s top boxers and coaches were in situ for the Liffey Crane Irish Elite Championship finals promotional launch at the Ringside Club adjacent to the National Stadium this morning.

Liffey Crane proudly sponsor Irish amateur boxing.

Ireland finest will go head-to-head for Elite gold on Saturday in the year of the 80th anniversary of the official opening of the National Stadium in 1939.

AIBA World Elite Elite champion Kellie Harrington attended today’s launch. The Dubliner meets Jelena Jelic in an international bout on finals night.

Jelic, who lost to Katie Taylor on a Kanturk BC hosted show at the Mallow GAA club in 2016, can’t wait to step in the ring at the home of Irish boxing.

“I have fought the best in the world several times and I am more than ready for it again. When I fight someone I see them for whom they are and not what they are, I don’t care about that, said Serbia-born Jelic who boxes for Sweden.

“I’ve only had two weeks to prepare but I have been training long before I was asked to fight her. This is my first fight since I became Swedish champion in December.”

Harrington won’t be the only St Mary’s BC athletes between the ropes at the weekend as George Bates, the 2018 lightweight champion (60kg), meets Commonwealth Elite medallist and former Commonwealth Youth champion James McGivern for the light-welter title (63kg) on a busy night for St Mary’s BC chief seconds Noel Burke and staff.

Antrim stylist McGivern believes there’s only one place to be on finals night – and that’s not outside the ropes.

“Finals are where I belong… two nights in the Ulster finals so I’ll be used to this. George is a great fighter and last year’s 60kg champion so I’ve no doubt it’ll be a tough, tough fight. But I’m confident,” he said.

Galway’s defending welterweight champion Kieran Molloy and Limerick’s 2015 World Junior finalist Paddy Donovan battle it out for supremacy in an all southpaw showdown.

“It was great to get it over and done (semi-final victory) with now and focus on the final. I’m very confident of getting the job done again next weekend,” said Molloy, who claimed his first Elite belt and the Best Boxer Award last year.

Donovan impressed in his win over 2018 Commonwealth Games finalist Aidan Walsh last time out.

“It’s going to be a great match up (versus Molloy), southpaw versus southpaw,” said the Treaty City leftie.

Galway middleweight Gabriel Dossen bounced back, quite literally, from a freak knee injury in sparring to win his semi-final against Brett McGinty last Saturday and goes head-to-head with Dublin’s 2017 Elite champion Emmett Brennan who outpointed Fearghus Quinn in the last four.

”I thought my performance was very good for someone that was on crutches and told three days prior to the fight that I wasn’t going to be able, said Dossen.

“My plan is to do what I do best and that’s my movement and clean long scores. Those skills are what’s got me here. Really excited to go out there and put in a show.”

Meanwhile, the hand of history and a proud family legacy will be on Tommy Hyde’s shoulder.

Almost three-quarters of a century ago, Hyde’s great grand uncle, also Tommy Hyde, beat Billy O’Mahony on points in the welterweight finals on February 23, 1946, to bring an Elite belt back to Cork.

Seventy-three years later, Hyde junior, who has Danny Fitzpatrick, Brian Cronin and Keith Williams working his corner, will fight for Elite gold under the same roof on February 23.

“I’m very confident as always. I’m in this to win it and I’m nearly there now. Looking forward to next weekend now, seventy years to the day since my grand uncle won the title.”

Please click here and here for finals lines ups and results so far.

Pictures from today’s launch courtesy of Tara Robins Mari 


ELITE FINALS RUNNING ORDER

IABA News

Please scroll down for running order for Saturday’s National Elite finals at Dublin’s National Stadium.

Chloe Fleck and Donna Barr get proceedings underway in the women’s light fly class.

Boxing begins at 5.45pm.

Saturday’s weigh-ins – 8am to 9am and 12pm to 1pm at the National Stadium.

 

LIFFEY CRANE NATIONAL MEN’S AND WOMEN’S SENIOR ELITE CHAMPIONSHIPS 2019

NATIONAL STADIUM DUBLIN, SATURDAY 23rd FEBRUARY

Finals (5.45pm)

48kg – Light flyweight – Chloe Fleck (Canal) V Donna Barr (Iliies Golden Gloves)

49kg – Light flyweight Regan Buckley (St Teresa’s) V Sean Mari (Monkstown Dublin)

75kg – Middleweight – Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea) V Cheyanne O’Neill (Athlone)

57kg – Featherweight – Michaela Walsh (Monkstown Antrim) V Dearbhla Duffy (Crumlin)

57kg – Featherweight – Christian Cekiso (Portlaoise) V Patryk Adamus (Drimnagh)

60kg – Lightweight – Dominic Bradley (Errigal) V David Oliver Joyce (Ballymun)

64kg – Light welterweight – Moira McElligot (St Michaels Athy) V Amy Broadhurst (Dealgan)

52kg – Flyweight – Evan Metcalf (Hyland BA) V Adam Hession (Monivea)

75kg – Middleweight Gabriel Dossen (Olympic Galway) V Emmett Brennan (Glasnevin)

80kg – Light heavyweight – Leona Houlihan (Crumlin) V Lisa Browne (Aglish)

91kg – Heavyweight – Anthony Browne (St Michaels Dublin) V Kenneth Okungbowa Athlone)

51kg – Flyweight – Carly McNaul (Holy Family Golden Gloves) V Niamh Early (Ryston)

63kg – Light welterweight –  James McGivern (St Georges) V George Bates (St Marys Dublin)

69kg – Welterweight – Christina Desmond (Fr Horgans) V Grainne Walsh (Spartacus)

81kg – Light heavyweight – Thomas O’Toole (Celtic Eagles) V Tommy Hyde (Mayfield)

69kg – Welterweight –  Kieran Molloy (Ougterard) V Patrick Donovan (Our Lady of Lourdes)

60kg – Lightweight – Kelly Harrington (St Mary’s) V Jelena Jelic (Serbia) (International bout)

91+kg – Super heavyweight – Dean Gardiner (Clonmel) V Martin Keenan (Rathkeale)

54kg – Bantamweight –  Emma Flannery (Baldoyle) W/O

60kg – Lightweight – Kellie Harrington (St Mary’s) W/O

80+kg – Light heavyweight + – Nell Fox (Rathkeale) W/O

Technical Delegate: Stephen Connolly

Supervisor: Philip Rooney

Chief Whip: Paddy Osborne

Medical Record Books: Anna Moore & Maura Campbell

Ringside Announcer: Peter O’Donnell; Computer Operator: Paul McMahon

Glove Stewards: Philip Roche, & Bernie Gannon

Referees & Judges: From Ulster, Munster, Leinster, Connacht, Dublin and Antrim

 

2019 NATIONAL ELITE FINALS

IABA News

Please scroll down for the Liffey Crane National Elite finals line ups.

The Championships conclude next Saturday night and will be broadcast live on TG4.

World Elite lightweight champion Kellie Harrington meets Sweden’s Jelena Jelic in an international bout on Saturday’s card.

“This is my first fight since I became Swedish champion in December. I’ve been working on some things I need to improve on,” said Jelic who boxes out of the Malmo BC.

Serbia-born Jelic was beaten by current IBF/WBA unified pro champion Katie Taylor, who was then the AIBA World lightweight champion, on a Kanturk BC hosted show at the Macroom GAA Complex in Cork in 2016.

Meanwhile, Irish boxing is this year celebrating the 80th anniversary of the official opening of the National Stadium, the first purpose-built boxing venue in the world, in 1939.

The IABA will confirm the running order for Saturday’s finals shortly.

2019 National Men’s and Women’s Elite Championships National Stadium Dublin

February 23

Finals

48kg Chloe Fleck (Canal) V Donna Barr (Illies GG)
49kg Regan Buckley (St Teresa’s) V Sean Mari (Monkstown D)
51kg Carly McNaul (Holy Family GG) V Niamh Early (Ryston)
52kg Evan Metcalf (Hyland BA) V Adam Hession (Monivea)
54kg Emma Flannery (Baldoyle) W/O
57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown Antrim) V Dervla Duffy (Crumlin)
57kg Christian Cekiso (Portlaoise) V Patryk Adamus (Drimnagh)
60kg Kellie Harrington (St Marys Dublin) W/O
60kg Dominic Bradley (Errigal) V David Oliver Joyce (Ballymun)
63kg James McGivern (St Georges) v George Bates (St Marys)
64kg Moira McElligot (St Michaels Athy) V Amy Broadhurst (Dealgan)
69kg Christina Desmond (Fr Horgans) V Grainne Walsh (Sparticus)
69kg Kieran Molloy (Oughterard) V Patrick Donovan (OLOL)
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea) V Chayanne O’Neill (Athlone)
75kg Gabriel Dossen (Olympic) V Emmett Brennan (Glasnevin)
80kg Leona Houlihan (Crumlin) V Lisa Browne (Aglish)
80+kg Nell Fox (Rathkeale) W/O
81kg Thomas O’Toole (Celtic Eagles) V Tommy Hyde (Mayfield)
91kg Anthony Browne (St Michaels Dub) V Kenneth Okungbowa (Athlone)
91+kg Dean Gardiner (Clonmel) V Martin Keenan (Rathkeale)

International bout

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) v Jelena Jelic (Sweden)

February 16

S/Finals

48kg Chloe Fleck (Canal) beat Courtney Daly (Crumlin) 5-0
48kg Donna Barr (Illies GG) W/O
63kg James McGivern (St Georges) beat Kenneth Doyle (Monkstown) 4-1
63kg George Bates (St Marys) beat Keith Flavin (Paulstown) 5-0
69kg Kieran Molloy (Oughterard) beat Luke Maguire (Esker) 4-1
69kg Patrick Donovan (OLOL) beat Aidan Walsh (Monkstown Antrim) 3-2
75kg Gabriel Dossen (Olympic) beat Brett McGinty (Oakleaf) 5-0
75kg Emmett Brennan (Glasnevin) beat Fearghus Quinn (Camlough) 4-1
81kg Thomas O’Toole (Celtic Eagles) beat David Bicevis (St Saviours OBA) 3-0
81kg Tommy Hyde (Mayfield) beat Paul McCullagh (St John Bosco Bel) 3-2
91kg Anthony Browne (St Michaels Dub) beat Kiril Afanasev (Smithfield) 3-1
91kg Kenneth Okungbowa (Athlone) beat Karol Dlugosz (Scorpion) 5-0
91+kg Dean Gardiner (Clonmel) Thomas Carthy (Crumlin) 5-0
91+kg Martin Keenan (Rathkeale) beat Gydis Linskyas (Celtic Eagles) 5-0

February 15

Q/finals & S/Finals

Q/Finals

48kg Chloe Fleck (Canal) beat Carol Coughlan (Monkstown D) 4-0
48kg Donna Barr (Illies GG) beat Ciara Walsh (Smithfield) 5-0

S/Finals

49kg Sean Mari (Monkstown D) beat Rory Baird (Ederney) 5-0
52kg Adam Hession (Monivea) beat Ricky Nesbitt (Holy Family Drog) 4-0
57kg Dearbhla Duffy (Crumlin) beat Mary Geraghty (St Anthony’s Dub) 5-0
57kg Christian Cekiso (Portlaoise) beat Myles Casey (St Francis) 4-1
57kg Patryk Adamus (Drimnagh) beat Tommy Casey (St Francis) 4-1
60kg David Oliver Joyce (Ballymun) beat Shane Flavin (Portlaoise) 4-1
64kg Amy Broadhurst (Dealgan) beat Shauna O’Callaghan (Clann Naofa) 5-0
69kg Christina Desmond (Fr Horgans) beat Tina Donnelly (Dublin Docklands) RSC3
69kg Grainne Walsh (Sparticus) beat Gillian Duffy (St Mary’s Dublin) 5-0

February 9

Q/Finals

63kg James McGivern (St Georges) beat Wayne Kelly (Portlaoise) 5-0
63kg Kenneth Doyle (Monkstown Dub) beat Gerard Matthews (St Pauls Antrim) 4-1
63kg Keith Flavin (Paulstown) beat Matthew McCole (Dungloe) 3-2
63kg George Bates (St Marys, Dublin) beat Michael Avetisian (Swords) RSCI3
69kg Kieran Molloy (Oughterard) beat Aaron Daly (Castlebar) 5-0
69kg Luke Maguire (Esker) beat Michael McGrane (Crumlin) 5-0
69kg Patrick Donovan (O.L.O.L.) beat Conor Ivors (St Francis) 5-0
69kg Aidan Walsh (Monkstown Antrim) beat Dean Walsh (St Ibars/Josephs) 4-1
75kg Gabriel Dossen (Olympic) beat Michael Nevin (Portlaoise) 3-2
75kg Brett McGinty (Oakleaf) beat Kelyn Cassidy (Saviours Crystal) 3-2
75kg Fearghus Quinn (Camlough) beat Gerard French (Emerald Antrim) 5-0
75kg Emmett Brennan (Glasnevin) beat Tony McGlynn (Crumlin) 5-0
91kg Anthony Browne (St Michaels Dub) beat Liam Greene (South Meath) 4-1
91kg Kenneth Okungbowa (Athlone) beat Danny O’Brien (Santry/Defence Forces) 5-0
91kg Karol Dlugosz (Scorpion) beat Geoffrey Kavanagh (St Michaels) 4-1
81kg David Bicevis (St Saviours OBA) beat Robbie Burke (Glasnevin) 3-2
91+kg Dean Gardiner (Clonmel) beat Tommy Sheahan (St Michaels Athy) RSC1
91+kg Thomas Carthy (Crumlin) beat Dean Scullion (Loughshore) 5-0
91+kg Gydis Linskyas (Celtic Eagles) beat Antoine Griffin (Celtic Eagles) 3-2
91+kg Martin Keenan (Rathkeale) beat Stephen McMonagle (Holy Trinity) 5-0

February 8

Preliminaries

57kg Christian Cekiso (Portlaoise) beat Conor Kerr (Monkstown Antrim) 5-0
57kg Tommy Casey (St Francis) beat Adam Courtney (St Mary’s Dublin) 4-0
63kg James McGivern (St Georges) beat Senan Kelly (Crumlin) 5-0
63kg Gerard Matthews (St Pauls Antrim) beat Stephen Lockhart (Baldoyle) 5-0
63kg Kenneth Doyle (Monkstown Dub) beat Craig Kavanagh (Crumlin) 4-1
63kg Matthew McCole (Dungloe) beat Dylan Duffy (Pegasus) 5-0
63kg Michael Avetisian (Swords) beat Terry McEntee (Old School/DCU) 4-1
69kg Aaron Daly (Castlebar) beat Fergal Redmond (Arklow) 5-0
69kg Aidan Walsh (Monkstown Antrim) beat Eugene McKeever (Holy Family Drog) 3-2
91+kg Tommy Sheahan (St Michaels Athy) beat Denis Borskins (Sacred Heart Newry) 5-0
91+kg Stephen McMonagle (Holy Trinity) beat James Clarke (Crumlin) 4-1

 

 

ELITE SEMI-FINALS DAY 2 RESULTS

IABA News
 

Galway’s defending welterweight champion Kieran Molloy, Chloe Fleck and James McGivern  won their semi-final bouts at the National Elite Championships at Dublin’s National Stadium tonight, Molloy beating Dublin’s Luke Maguire on a 4-1 split decision.

Cork light heavy Tommy Hyde also impressed – almost three quarters of a century after his great grand uncle, also Tommy Hyde, won an Elite belt at the same venue in 1946 -, while Galway middleweight Gabriel Dossen beat Derry’s Brett McGinty to reach his first Elite final at the first time of asking.

Hyde, whose dad Gary Hyde managed Cuba’s two-time gold medallist and world pro champion Guillermo Rigondeaux, will face Thomas O’Toole for light heavy gold next Saturday.

A semi-final card would not be complete without a shock, and Tony Browne provided it with a points victory over defending heavyweight champion Kiril Afanasev after a close Dublin derby, while big Ken Okungbowa won the corresponding semi-final.

Tipperary’s defending super heavy champion Dean Gardiner and Limerick’s Martin Keenan will contest the 91kg+ gold medal bout after both men won this evening.

George Bates, the 2018 60kg champion and Emmett Brennan also had their hands raised in triumph. Bates won Elite 60kg gold this month last year. He’s now aiming for the 63kg jackpot. Commonwealth medallist James McGivern stands in his way.

The 2019 National Elite finals will be decided next Saturday at the National Stadium.

World Elite lightweight champion Kellie Harrington will meet Sweden’s Jelena Jelic in an international bout on Elite finals night next Saturday at the Stadium.

Harrington received a walkover at the Elites as no opponent entered against her. Serbia-born Jelic was beaten by Olympic champion Katie Taylor on a Kanturk BC hosted show in Cork in 2016.

(Images: Paddy Donovan (red), Kieran Molloy, Kenneth Okungbowa and Emmett Brennan and opponents. Pictures courtesy of Paddy Gallagher)

2019 National Men’s and Women’s Elite Championships National Stadium Dublin

February 16

S/Finals (6pm)

48kg Chloe Fleck (Canal) beat Courtney Daly (Crumlin) 5-0
48kg Donna Barr (Illies GG) W/O
63kg James McGivern (St Georges) beat Kenneth Doyle (Monkstown) 4-1
63kg George Bates (St Marys) beat Keith Flavin (Paulstown) 5-0
69kg Kieran Molloy (Oughterard) beat  Luke Maguire (Esker) 4-1
69kg Patrick Donovan (OLOL) beat  Aidan Walsh (Monkstown Antrim) 3-2
75kg Gabriel Dossen (Olympic) beat  Brett McGinty (Oakleaf) 5-0
75kg Emmett Brennan (Glasnevin) beat Fearghus Quinn (Camlough) 4-1
81kg Thomas O’Toole (Celtic Eagles) beat  David Bicevis (St Saviours OBA) 3-0
81kg Tommy Hyde (Mayfield) beat Paul McCullagh (St John Bosco Bel) 3-2
91kg Anthony Browne (St Michaels Dub) beat Kiril Afanasev (Smithfield) 3-1
91kg Kenneth Okungbowa (Athlone) beat  Karol Dlugosz (Scorpion) 5-0
91+kg Dean Gardiner (Clonmel)  Thomas Carthy (Crumlin) 5-0
91+kg Martin Keenan (Rathkeale) beat Gydis Linskyas (Celtic Eagles) 5-0

February 15

Q/finals & S/Finals

Q/Finals

48kg Chloe Fleck (Canal) beat Carol Coughlan (Monkstown D) 4-0

48kg Donna Barr (Illies GG) beat Ciara Walsh (Smithfield) 5-0

S/Finals

49kg Sean Mari (Monkstown D) beat Rory Baird (Ederney) 5-0
52kg Adam Hession (Monivea) beat Ricky Nesbitt (Holy Family Drog) 4-0
57kg Dearbhla Duffy (Crumlin) beat Mary Geraghty (St Anthony’s Dub) 5-0
57kg Christian Cekiso (Portlaoise) beat Myles Casey (St Francis) 4-1
57kg Patryk Adamus (Drimnagh) beat Tommy Casey (St Francis) 4-1
60kg David Oliver Joyce (Ballymun) beat Shane Flavin (Portlaoise) 4-1
64kg Amy Broadhurst (Dealgan) beat Shauna O’Callaghan (Clann Naofa) 5-0
69kg Christina Desmond (Fr Horgans) beat Tina Donnelly (Dublin Docklands) RSC3

69kg Grainne Walsh (Sparticus) beat Gillian Duffy (St Mary’s Dublin) 5-0

Saturday February 23

Finals

48kg Chloe Fleck (Canal) V Donna Barr (Illies GG)
49kg Regan Buckley (St Teresa’s) V Sean Mari (Monkstown D)
51kg Carly McNaul (Holy Family GG) V Niamh Early (Ryston)
52kg Evan Metcalf (Hyland BA) V Adam Hession (Monivea)
54kg Emma Flannery (Baldoyle) W/O
57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown Antrim) V Dearbhla Duffy (Crumlin)
57kg Christian Cekiso (Portlaoise) V Patryk Adamus (Drimnagh)
60kg Kellie Harrington (St Marys Dublin) W/O (Harrington will meet Sweden’s Jelena Jelic in an international bout)
60kg Dominic Bradley (Errigal) V David Oliver Joyce (Ballymun)
63kg James McGivern (St Georges) v George Bates (St Marys)
64kg Moira McElligot (St Michaels Athy) V Amy Broadhurst (Dealgan)
69kg Christina Desmond (Fr Horgans) V Grainne Walsh (Sparticus)
69kg Kieran Molloy (Oughterard) V Patrick Donovan (OLOL)
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea) V Chayanne O’Neill (Athlone)
75kg Gabriel Dossen (Olympic) V Emmett Brennan (Glasnevin)
80kg Leona Houlihan (Crumlin) V Lisa Browne (Aglish)
80+kg Nell Fox (Rathkeale) W/O
81kg Thomas O’Toole (Celtic Eagles) V Tommy Hyde (Mayfield)
91kg Anthony Browne (St Michaels Dub) V Kenneth Okungbowa (Athlone)

91+kg Dean Gardiner (Clonmel) V Martin Keenan (Rathkeale)

February 9

Q/Finals

63kg James McGivern (St Georges) beat Wayne Kelly (Portlaoise) 5-0
63kg Kenneth Doyle (Monkstown Dub) beat Gerard Matthews (St Pauls Antrim) 4-1
63kg Keith Flavin (Paulstown) beat Matthew McCole (Dungloe) 3-2
63kg George Bates (St Marys, Dublin) beat Michael Avetisian (Swords) RSCI3
69kg Kieran Molloy (Oughterard) beat Aaron Daly (Castlebar) 5-0
69kg Luke Maguire (Esker) beat Michael McGrane (Crumlin) 5-0
69kg Patrick Donovan (O.L.O.L.) beat Conor Ivors (St Francis) 5-0
69kg Aidan Walsh (Monkstown Antrim) beat Dean Walsh (St Ibars/Josephs) 4-1
75kg Gabriel Dossen (Olympic) beat Michael Nevin (Portlaoise) 3-2
75kg Brett McGinty (Oakleaf) beat Kelyn Cassidy (Saviours Crystal) 3-2
75kg Fearghus Quinn (Camlough) beat Gerard French (Emerald Antrim) 5-0
75kg Emmett Brennan (Glasnevin) beat Tony McGlynn (Crumlin) 5-0
91kg Anthony Browne (St Michaels Dub) beat Liam Greene (South Meath) 4-1
91kg Kenneth Okungbowa (Athlone) beat Danny O’Brien (Santry/Defence Forces) 5-0
91kg Karol Dlugosz (Scorpion) beat Geoffrey Kavanagh (St Michaels) 4-1
81kg David Bicevis (St Saviours OBA) beat Robbie Burke (Glasnevin) 3-2
91+kg Dean Gardiner (Clonmel) beat Tommy Sheahan (St Michaels Athy) RSC1
91+kg Thomas Carthy (Crumlin) beat Dean Scullion (Loughshore) 5-0
91+kg Gydis Linskyas (Celtic Eagles) beat Antoine Griffin (Celtic Eagles) 3-2

91+kg Martin Keenan (Rathkeale) beat Stephen McMonagle (Holy Trinity) 5-0

February 8

Preliminaries

57kg Christian Cekiso (Portlaoise) beat Conor Kerr (Monkstown Antrim) 5-0
57kg Tommy Casey (St Francis) beat Adam Courtney (St Mary’s Dublin) 4-0
63kg James McGivern (St Georges) beat Senan Kelly (Crumlin) 5-0
63kg Gerard Matthews (St Pauls Antrim) beat Stephen Lockhart (Baldoyle) 5-0
63kg Kenneth Doyle (Monkstown Dub) beat Craig Kavanagh (Crumlin) 4-1
63kg Matthew McCole (Dungloe) beat Dylan Duffy (Pegasus) 5-0
63kg Michael Avetisian (Swords) beat Terry McEntee (Old School/DCU) 4-1
69kg Aaron Daly (Castlebar) beat Fergal Redmond (Arklow) 5-0
69kg Aidan Walsh (Monkstown Antrim) beat Eugene McKeever (Holy Family Drog) 3-2
91+kg Tommy Sheahan (St Michaels Athy) beat Denis Borskins (Sacred Heart Newry) 5-0
91+kg Stephen McMonagle (Holy Trinity) beat James Clarke (Crumlin) 4-1