Team Ireland’s Jennifer Lehane is through to the quarter finals of World Boxing Cup, Brazil.
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.
Jenny was the unanimous decision winner over Venezuela’s Diana Mastre in her 54kg Last 16 contest, on a scoreline of 27:30, 28:29; 28:29; 28:29; 28:29. She boxes for a medal on Thursday.
Speaking to Boxing Ireland Brazil Correspondent, Grainne Walsh in Foz do Iguacu after her bout, Jenny said “Feeling good; always good to get the first one underway. I’ll be back on tomorrow so, hopefully, build on today and be back even better tomorrow.” Jenny, who lost the first round 4-1, adds “You’ve been there before when you come back to the corner after the first round and you’re down. What’s done in the first round is done, it’s over. I definitely started out a bit unsettled, I think. First day nerves. I held on to my composure and felt more relaxed in the second round and it showed.”
Evelyn Igharo bows out of World Boxing Cup, Brazil on a split decision. She contested her 70kg Last 16 bout tonight against Paris Olympian and former pro boxer, Mexico’s Citlallo Vanessa Ortiz. The 4-1 decision went to Ortiz, on a scoreline of 27:29; 27:29; 29:28; 27:29; 26:29, reflecting a point deduction for the Louth woman
Not to be for Louis Rooney at the World Boxing Cup Brazil. The Belfast man contested his 50kg Last 16 bout tonight against Morocco’s Issam Bensayar. The unanimous decision went to Bensayer on a scoreline of 27:30; 27:30; 27:30; 27:30; 27:30.
60kg Jude Gallagher was scheduled to contest against USA’s Salim Ellis-Bey today, but has been withdrawn through injury following medical assessment.
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 (2), Leitrim (1), Louth (1), Tyrone (1) Westmeath (1) and Wicklow (1).
All drawsheets and results are available here
Day Four
There are four Team Ireland boxers in action on Day Four
Jenny Lehane is back in action, boxing for a medal against fellow Paris Olympian, Serbia’s Sara Cirkovic. That’s Bout 4 of Ring B’s Evening Session. Jenny should be in the ring at around 9:45pm.
Before that, 3 boxers contest for quarter finals berths.
51kg Daina Moorehouse takes on Poland’s Natalia Kuczewska in Bout 4 of Ring A’s Afternoon Session. They should be in action at 3:45pm on Thursday.
Over in Ring B’s Afternoon Session, 55kg World bronze medalist Patsy Joyce makes his tournament debut against Tajikistan’s Meroj Sufijonov in Bout 8. Patsy should be in the ring at around 4.45pm.
In the subsequent bout, Dean Clancy takes on Mexico’s Hugo Barron for a place in the 65kg quarter finals.
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