5 Team Ireland boxers have now won through to the quarter finals at the 77th Strandja Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria, and another 4 have secured Last 16 spots.
34 seconds – that’s all Josh Olaniyan needed to secure his place in Strandja’s 80kg quarter finals. He was the RSC1 winner over Dimeji Shittu of England and boxes for a medal on Friday, against Ukraine’s Dzhamal Kuliev
Caitlin Fryers has won through to the quarter finals. She boxed a tempestuous Last 16 bout against England’s Kelsey Oakley and claimed a 4-1 win on a scoreline of 27:30; 29:28; 27:30; 28:29; 28:29. Caitlin will contest for a medal against home boxer, Bulgaria’s Venelina Poptoleva in Thursday’s Afternoon Session.
Niamh Fay is through to the Strandja QFs. She contested her Last 16 bout against Turkey’s Ece Asude Ediz, and was the 4-1 winner, on a scoreline of 29:28; 30:27; 29:28; 27:30; 29;28. Niamh is back in action on Thursday, contest for a podium place against Khumorabonu Mamajonova of Uzbekistan. Her weigh-mate, Michaela Walsh, is also now a quarter finalist. She boxed her Last 16 bout against Italy’s Madalina Grabucea , and was the 4-1 winner. Judges scored the bout 30: 27; 30:27: 30: 26; 30: 26; 28: 29. Michaela will box for a medal tomorrow, against Jessia Dias Coutinho.
Grainne Walsh has also won through to QFs. She contested her 65kg Last 16 bout against Armenia’s Elida Kocharyan and was the 4-1 victor. The bout was scored 27:30; 29:28; 27:30; 27:30; 27:30. Grainne boxes for a podium place on Thursday, against Brazil’s Haziel Krishna Franco Santos
Not to be for Daina Moorehouse in her Stranda Last 16 contest. The 51kg Wicklow woman took on fellow Paris Olympian and 2023 Cologne World Boxing Cup champ, Maxi Klotzer of Germany. The 5-0 decision went to the German boxer. Judges scored the bout 29:28; 30:27; 29:28; 29:28; 30:27
In all, 209 men and 129 women are contesting the tournament, Europe’s oldest multi-nations competition. Team Ireland is comprised of 2025 World bronze medalists Patsy Joyce (55kg), Olympian Grainne Walsh (65kg), double Olympian Michaela Walsh (57kg) and Paris Olympians Daina Moorehouse (50kg), Jennifer Lehane (54kg), Jude Gallagher (60kg), Dean Clancy (65kg) and Jack Marley (90kg). Also named European medalists Louis Rooney (50kg), Caitlin Fryers (51kg), Niamh Fay (57kg) and Evelyn Igharo (70kg). The team includes boxers from clubs in 9 counties: Antrim (4), Dublin (8), Galway (1), Leitrim (1), Louth (1), Tyrone (1), Waterford (1), Westmeath (2) and Wicklow (1).
Results, Ring A Afternoon Session | Results, Ring B Afternoon Session
Results, Ring A Evening Session | Results, Ring B Evening Session
Day Four
8 Team Ireland boxers will be in action on Thursday, 5 boxing for medals and three contesting for quarter final berths.
51kg Caitlin Fryers is first up in QF action, taking on Bulgaria’s Venelina Poptoleva in Bout 3 of Ring B’s Afternoon Session. Over in Ring A, 54kg Jenny Lehane meets England’s Lauren Mackie in Bout 6.
Next up, in Bout 10 of Ring B’s Afternoon Session is 70kg Terry McEntee, boxing a Last 16 contest against Kaian Oliveira Reis of Brazil.
In Bout 11 of Ring A’s Afternoon Session, 65kg Dean Clancy is also boxing a Last 16 bout, taking on Uzbekistan’s Abdulloh Madaminov. Three contests later, in Bout 13, 70kg Jon McConnell is in against Kazakhstan’s Mukhammedsabyr Uulu Bazarbay
57kg Niamh Fay opens proceedings in Ring B’s Evening Session, boxing for a podium place against Khumorabonu Mamajonova of Uzbekistan. Four contests later, 65kg Grainne Walsh boxes for a medal against Haziel Krishna Franco Santos of Brazil.
In Ring A’s Evening Session, 57kg Michaela Walsh, taking on Brazil’s Jessia Dias Coutinho. That’s Bout 2
Day Four’s schedule is available here
Watch
The Bulgarian Boxing Federation is expected to stream the tournament, live, on it’s YouTube channel
Links, per ring and session, are generally published on the day of boxing.
Morning sessions begin at 10am, Irish time, while Evening Sessions will get underway at 3pm.
Team Ireland
50kg | Louis Rooney, Star BC, Belfast
51kg | Daina Moorehouse, Enniskerry BC, Wicklow
51kg | Caitlin Fryers, Immaculata BC, Belfast
54kg | Jennifer Lehane, DCU BC, Dublin
55kg | Patsy Joyce, Olympic BC, Mullingar
57kg | Michaela Walsh, Holy Family GG, Belfast
57kg | Niamh Fay, Phoenix of Ballyboughal BC, Dublin
60kg | Jude Gallagher, Two Castles OBA, Tyrone
60kg | Adam Hession, Monivea BC, Galway
60kg | Kellie McLoughlin, St. Catherine’s BC, Dublin
65kg | Dean Clancy, Sean McDermott BC, Leitrim
65kg | Jason Nevin, Olympic BC, Mullingar
65kg | Grainne Walsh, St. Mary’s BC, Tallaght
70kg | Jon McConnell, Holy Trinity BC, Belfast
70kg | Terry McEntee, DCU BC, Dublin
70kg | Evelyn Igharo, Clann Naofa BC, Louth
80kg | Josh Olaniyan, Jobstown BC, Dublin
80kg | Kelyn Cassidy, Saviours Crystal BC, Waterford
85kg | Nathan Ojo, Esker BC, Dublin
90kg | Jack Marley, Monkstown BC, Dublin
Support Staff
Team Lead & Head Coach | Damian Kennedy
Coach | James Doyle
Coach | Jay Delaney
Coach | Ross Hickey, Grangecon BC, Wicklow
Coach | Paul Simpson, Saviours Crystal BC, Waterford
Coach | Brendan Irvine, UUJ/ St. Paul’s Belfast
Physio | Rob Tuomey
R&J | Stephen Kelly