Two Paris Olympians, Daina Moorehouse and Dean Clancy, have won through to the medal stages 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.
Wicklow’s Daina Moorehouse is through to the 51kg quarter finals. She was the 4-1 split winner over Poland’s Natalia Kuczewska a scoreline of 29:28; 27:30; 27:30; 27:30 28:29. She boxes for a medal tomorrow, against Alua Balikibekova of Kazakhstan
Speaking to Boxing Ireland Brazil Correspondent Grainne Walsh, Daina said “I felt like it took me a while to get in to the fight, but I was up on the scorecards. The referee told us to box two or three times, but, it was all about patience today. “ and, she added “Back in tomorrow, and each day I’ll just get better, and better!”
Dean Clancy has also won through to the quarter finals of the World Boxing Cup Brazil. He contested his 65kg Last 16 contest against Hugo Barron of Mexico, and came away with a split decision win. Judges scored the bout 28:28, 26:30, 27:29, 29:27, 28:27, reflecting a point deduction for the Team Ireland boxer
Speaking to Grainne after his bout, Dean said “The first round, it took me a few minutes to get in to the groove with things, to find my range with him. I knew I was 3-2 down and I didn’t panic. I came back in the second round and got it convincingly, and the third.” Of his second round point deduction, Dean says “‘When I slipped and I caught him with a hook, I thought it was a count, myself. I got a point deducted and I was like….ahhh…With my experience, I knew it wasn’t the end of the world. I came out in the third round with a little bit of flare. I just wanted to spark him at the end of the last round – I let the hands go and landed some big shots”. On his quarter final opponent, Brazil’s Yuri Falcao Dean says “It’s a great test, especially in Brazil against the home fighter so I’m looking forward to that.”
Jenny Lehane bows-out, despite a valiant performance in her World Boxing Cup Brazil quarter final. She contested her against fellow Paris Olympian, Serbia’s Sara Cirkovic and the 5-0 win went to her opponent. Judges scored the bout 28:29; 28:29; 27:30; 28:29; 27:30 Jenny’s WBC Brazil journey included a unanimous decision win over Venezuela’s Diana Mastre
Not to be for Patsy Joyce at World Boxing Cup Brazil. The Westmeath man contested his 55kg Last 16 contest against Tajikistan’s Meroj Sufijonov and the 5-0 decision went to his opponent. Judges scored the bout 29: 25; 29:25; 29:25; 29:26; 29:25, reflecting two point deductions for the Team Ireland boxer.
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 FIVE
Daina and Dean will both box for medals in Friday’s Evening Session, beginning at 9pm Irish time.
Daina is in action against Alua Balikibekova of Kazakhstan in Bout 2, Ring B, at around 9.15pm.
Dean takes on Brazil’s Yuri Falcao in Bout 7 in Ring B, at approximately 10:30pm.
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