Jude Gallagher has opened Team Ireland’s account at World Boxing Cup Brazil in style,
This is the first stage in the 2026 World Boxing Cup series, taking place in Foz do Iguaçu. The series is a benchmark competition run across three tournaments, designed for Elite male and female boxers to accrue ranking points. Almost 400 boxers from 50 National Federations, are registered to take part from countries including Brazil, China, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Poland, Romania, Spain, Tajikistan, Türkiye and USA.
Jude recorded a 4-1 split win over Kazakhstan’s Zhanseri Kosherbayev in a tight, technical contest. Judges scored the bout 29:28; 30:27; 28:29; 30:27 and 29:28. Jude is back in action on Wednesday, taking on Salim Ellis-Bey of USA, who was the 5-0 winner over Hungary today.
Speaking to Boxing Ireland Brazil Correspondent Grainne Walsh in Foz do Iguacu directly after his fight, Jude said “A tough one to get started (on). A very good opponent, a very technical, high-skilled bout so I’m just delighted to come out on the right side of that one….The last round was very important. I knew it was level going in to the last. I sort of went through him, took him by surprise a wee bit and I think I hurt him with a body shot. That allowed me to pick my shots better and control the third round”
Not to be for Jack Marley, boxing a Last 16 bout. The Monkstown BC heavyweight contested his Last 16 contest against Dean Nwokedi Chime of Italy. The 4-1 decision went to the Italian boxer. The final scores: 29:28; 29:28; 27:30; 29:28; 29:28.
Jon McConnell bows out on the narrowest of margins, a dreaded 3-2 split. He contested his 70kg Last 32 bout against Kazakhstan’s Farukh Tokhtassunov in a very close encounter. Judges scored the bout 28:29; 28:29, 29:28; 29:28; 29:28
Of members of the team yet to box, Louis Rooney will open his account at World Boxing Cup Brazil on Wednesday. He starts at Last 16 stage in a 50kg category with 13 boxers, taking on Morocco’s Issam Bensayar for a place in the Quarter Finals. Jenny Lehane has a bye to the Last 16 in the 54kg category. She is first in action on Wednesday, against Venezuela’s Diana Mastre.
There are 27 boxers in Men’s 55kg, including Team Ireland’s Patsy Joyce. He benefits from a bye to the Last 16, and opens his account on Thursday, against the winner of the preliminary between Poland and Tajikistan. Evelyn Igharo benefits from a bye to the Last 16 of the 70kg category. She is first in action on Wednesday against Paris Olympian and former pro boxer, Mexico’s Citlallo Vanessa Ortiz.
The 10 strong Ireland team includes 6 Olympians in Daina Moorehouse, Jenny Lehane, Michaela Walsh, Jude Gallagher, Dean Clancy and Jack Marley, alongside 2025 World bronze medalist Patsy Joyce, multiple European U23 medalist Louis Rooney. Team members are from clubs in Belfast (3), Dublin (3), Leitrim (1), Louth (1), Tyrone (1) Westmeath (1) and Wicklow (1).
All drawsheets and results are available here
Day Two
There are three Team Ireland boxers in action on Day Two.
Michaela Walsh boxes for a quarter final place. There are 17 boxers in Women’s 57kg, and she has a bye through to the Last 16. Michaela first steps between the ropes on Tuesday, renewing rivalry with USA’s Alyssa Mendoza. The two last met at the 77th Strandja tournament in Bulgaria in February. Michaela was the 4-1 winner. She boxes in Bout of Ring B’s Afternoon Session, at around 4.15pm, Irish time.
Two bouts beforehand, in Bout 4 of the same ring and session, Daina Moorehouse begins her campaign on Tuesday at Last 32 stage, in a 51kg category with 23 boxers. She meets New Zealand’s Ashley Belk in the Afternoon Session. That’s at approximately 3.45pm
Dean Clancy is in one of the largest categories, by size, in the World Boxing Cup Brazil. There are 30 boxers contesting at Men’s 65kg. Dean begins his tournament on Tuesday at Last 32 stage, against Romania’s Arun Nicu Tuboroiu. He’ll box in Bout 4 of Ring B’s Evening Session, at around 9.45pm Irish time
Watch
The host federation, Condederacao Brasileira de Boxe, will live-stream the tournament on its YouTube channel, here. Links, per ring and session, will be published daily in advance of boxing.
All Afternoon Sessions begin at 3pm, Irish time. Evening Sessions get underway at 9pm.
Boxers
50kg Louis Rooney, Star BC, Belfast.
51kg Daina Moorehouse, Enniskerry Boxing Club, Wicklow.
54kg Jenny Lehane, DCU Boxing Club, Dublin
55kg Patsy Joyce, Olympic BC, Mullingar
57kg Michaela Walsh, Holy Family GG Boxing Club, Belfast
60kg Jude Gallagher, Two Castles OBA, Tyrone
65kg Dean Clancy, Sean McDermott Boxing Club, Leitrim
70kg Evelyn Igharo, Clann Naofa Boxing Club, Louth
70kg Jon McConnell, Holy Trinity Boxing Club, Belfast
90kg Jack Marley, Monkstown Boxing Club, Dublin
Support Staff
Team Lead/ Head Coach: Damian Kennedy
Coaches: Lynne McEnery, James Doyle, Jay Delaney
Physio: Rob Tuomey
PA: Alan Swanton
About World Boxing Cup, Brazil
- Ranking points available: Gold Medal, 150 points. Silver medal 100 points. Bronze medal 75 points.
- Foz do Iguacu, Brazil, is four hours ahead of Ireland.
- Boxing takes place April 20th to 26th. All finals will be boxed on April 26th. There is no rest day in this competition.
- All Afternoon Sessions begin at 3pm, Irish time. Evening Sessions get underway at 9pm.
- Condederacao Brasileira de Boxe will live-stream the tournament on its YouTube channel HERE
About the World Boxing Cup series
World Boxing Cup: Brazil 2026 is the first stage in the 2026 World Boxing Cup series. It is a high-level Olympic-style amateur boxing competition run across three tournaments, designed for elite male and female boxers to accrue ranking points.
World Box Cup: China will take place in Guiyang City, China from 15–20 June. The series will culminate in the World Boxing Cup Finals, which will take place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from 25 November- 2 December 2026