Team Ireland will return from the World U19 Championships with 6 medals following completion today of all quarter finals.
John Donoghue is now a two-time world medalist, after his World U19 Championship quarter final victory. John, and 2023 World Junior champ, was the unanimous decision winner over Hungary’s Levente Turos in the 70kg QF. He’s back in action, and boxing for an up-grade in Sunday’s Afternoon Session, against Artyom Stepanyan of Armenia
Kalib Walshe has won, at least, a World U19 Championship. The European silver medalist has defeated, 5-0, Algeria’s Smail Sahraoui in a lightweight QF. Kalib boxes his semi final in Sunday’s Evening Session, taking on Greece’s Nearchos Petros Konstantinoudis
Louise Joyce is assured of at least bronze. The three time European medalist was the 3-2 split decison winner over USA’s Ciana Nonhphala in their 48kg quarter final. Louise, of Olympic BC Mullingar, boxes her semi final in Sunday’s Evening Session, against Elissandra Santos of Brazil.
Team Co-Captain Jason Whelan has his place on the podium – he was the unanaimous decision winner over Nikolay Sabev of Bulgaria in their 75kg quarter final. Jason, of Dublin Docklands, boxes for an up-grade in Sunday’s Evening Session, contesting against Uzbekistan’s Suhrob Rakhmatullaev
Kayleigh Byrne left absolutely everything in the ring in her World U19 Championship quarter final, and bows-out on a dreaded 3-2 split. Kayleigh, of Gorey BC, boxed her 51kg QF against Nazokat Mardonova of Uzbekistan. Despite winning the second round 3-2, and the third 4-1, the decision went to Mardonova. Kayleigh’s journey Worlds journey has included wins over Patrycja Petriman of Poland and Shi-Chun Chou of Chinese Taipei, a 2026 European silver medal.
Team Co-Captain Grace Bailey has bowed out of the championships. The 65kg Castlebar BC boxer contested a tough, physical quarter final against Harsika Harsika of India, with the UD going to the Indian athlete. Grace’s World journey has included wins over Timea Fábryová of Slovakia and Dunja Vuksic of Serbia;
Lee Largey Snoddon also exits, on the narrowest of margins: a 3-2 split. Lee boxed his 55kg quarter final against Azerbaijan’s Nihat Gasimov, winning a tumultuous 1st round 4-1, but ultimately the judges awarded the decision to Gasimov. Lee, of Immaculata BC, has had an incredible tournament, winning against David Mlacic of Australia, Moldova’s Damian Grisman and Riad Isufi of Kosovo
Kristian Jubani, Boxing Ireland’s 2026 European U19 medalist at 50kg, has been selected to contest the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, from October 31st to November 13th. He has travelled with the team to continue his preparations, but will not compete in Budva.
The team is led and managed by Jennifer O’Sullivan Coffey of Sliabh Luachra BC, Kerry. The team is coached by Eoin Pluck, High Performance; Garry Kehoe of Marble City BC Kilkenny, Fergus Turner of Enniscorthy BC, Wexford and Aoife Hennigan of Swinford BC, Mayo.
Complete World U19 Championship Drawsheets
Number of boxers per weight class
Women’s 48kg: 21 boxers
Women’s 51kg: 23 boxers
Women’s 54kg: 20 boxers
Women’s 57kg: 20 boxers
Women’s 60kg: 21 boxers
Women’s 65kg: 22 boxers
Women’s 70kg: 16 boxers
Women’s 75kg: 13 boxers
Women’s 80kg: 6 boxers
Women’s +80kg: 6 boxers
Men’s 50kg: 29 boxers
Men’s 55kg: 37 boxers
Men’s 60kg: 38 boxers
Men’s 65kg: 45 boxers
Men’s 70kg: 35 boxers
Men’s 75kg: 28 boxers
Men’s 80kg: 33 boxers
Men’s 85kg: 22 boxers
Men’s 90kg: 23 boxers
Men’s +90kg: 16 boxers
Competition Schedule
Boxing takes place at the Mediterranean Sports Centre. Monday, October 26th is a rest day at the tournament. All finals and medal ceremonies will take place on Tuesday, October 27th.
Afternoon Sessions will begin at 1pm, Irish time, and Evening Sessions will get underway at 5pm.
Complete World U19 Championships Competition Schedule
Detailed Competition Schedule
Watch
Every single bout of the competition will be livestreamed on World Boxing TV.
Subscriptions cost $5.99 per month and will include every session live with commentary from the semi-finals onwards.
Day Eight
Team Ireland’s Kaysie Joyce boxes her 70kg semi final in Bout 5 of Ring A’s Afternoon Sesson, taking on USA’s Marley McNealy while 60kg Kalib Walshe and 70kg John Donoghue box for up-grades in Bouts 4 & 6 of Ring A’s Afternoon Session, against Greece’s Nearchos Petros Konstantinoudis and Artyom Stepanyan of Armenia, respectively.
Louise Joyce boxes the opening semi final in Ring A’s Evening Session, against Elissandra Santos of Brazil. 65kg Jason Donoghue and 75kg Jason Whelan box in Bouts 6 & 7, against Spains’ Pablo Souto Macias and Uzbekistan’s Suhrob Rakhmatullaev
Schedules are available here
Team Ireland
48kg Louise Joyce, Olympic BC Mullingar, Westmeath
50kg Caoimhin Connolly, Twin Towns ABC, Donegal
51kg Kayleigh Byrne, Gorey ABC, Wexford
54kg Carley O’Herron, Rochfortbridge BC, Westmeath
55kg Lee Largey Snoddon, Immaculata BC, Antrim
60kg Kalib Walshe, Wexford CBS, Wexford
65kg Grace Bailey, Castlebar BC, Mayo
65kg Jason Donoghue, Olympic BC, Mullingar, Westmeath
70kg Kaysie Joyce, Clonmel BC, Tipperary
70kg John Donoghue, Olympic BC, Mullingar, Westmeath
75kg Cassie Henderson, Phoenix BC, Armagh
75kg Jason Whelan, Dublin Docklands BC, Dublin
Support Staff
Team Manager, Jennifer O’Sullivan Coffey, Sliabh Luachra BC, Kerry
Coach, Eoin Pluck, High Performance
Coach, Garry Kehoe of Marble City BC Kilkenny
Coach, Fergus Turner of Enniscorthy BC, Wexford
Coach, Aoife Hennigan of Swinford BC, Mayo.