Two Team Ireland boxers will contest for gold at the World U19 Championship finals on Tuesday.
Now two-time World medalist John Donoghue has won through to the 70kg finals. He boxed his semi against Artyom Stepanyan of Armenia and came away with a 3-2 win, despite a 3rd round point deduction. The reigning European champ will meet Bibarys Ashirbay of Kazakhstan in the final, taking place in Tuesday’s Afternoon Session.
European silver medalist, Kalib Walshe has won through to the lightweight finals. In a thrilling 60kg semi final against Greece’s Nearchos Petros Konstantinoudis, Kalib was down going in to the second, and winning that on all cards and claiming the 3rd 4-1, despite a count. He boxes his final in Tuesday’s Afternoon Session, against Edgardo Nicolas Peralta of Argentina.
Four Team Ireland boxers will come home with bronze medals on their World level debut. Clonmel BC’s Kaysie Joyce is 70kg bronze medalist. She contested her semi final against USA’s Marley McNealy – that ended in an RSC3 for McNealy. Kaysie has had an excellent debut tournament at this level with wins over Vladyslava Nalyvaiko of Ukraine and England’s Shannon Warren.
Louise Joyce of Olympic BC Mullingar adds World bronze to her benchmark tally of three European medals. She boxed her 48kg semi final against tall, rangy Brazilian, Elissandra Santos. The 5-0 decison went to Santos, scored 30:27; 30:27; 29:28; 29:28; 30:27. Louise’s path to the podium has included wins over Algeria’s Bouthaina Bouslash and Ciana Nonhphala of USA.
John’s brother, Jason, is also a World bronze medalist – having contested a hair’s breath close semi final against Spains’ Pablo Souto Macias. The 3-2 decision went to the Spanish boxer, and judges scored the bout 30:27; 30: 27; 28:29; 27:30; 30:27. Jason has had an excellent tournament, with wins over Rostyslav Horodynskyi of Ukraine, Moldova’s Catalan Mustea and Akzhurek Kalabay of Kazakhstan.
Team Co-Captain Jason Whelan comes home with bronze following his 75kg semi final against Uzbekistan’s Suhrob Rakhmatullaev, and the decision went to the Uzbek, scored 30:25; 30:25; 30:25; 30:25; 30:25. Jason, of Dublin Docklands BC, has had an exceptional tournament, with wins over Turkmen boxer Toyly Bazarov, Italy’s Alessandro Bramerini and Nikolay Sabev of Bulgaria.
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.
Finals
Monday is a rest day in Budva – all finals and medal ceremonies will take place on Tuesday.
The Afternoon Session will begin at the earlier time of midday, Irish time
Kalib Walsh boxes for gold against Edgardo Nicolas Peralta of Argentina in Bout 5 of the Afternoon Session, at around 1pm Irish time. Two contests later, in Bout 7, John Donoghue vies for the top of the podium against Bibarys Ashirbay of Kazakhstan.
48kg Louise Joyce, 70kg Kaysie Joyce and 75kg Jason Whelan are also expected to receive their medals at the conclusion of the Afternoon Session, while 65kg Jason Donogue will be awarded his medals at the conclusion of the Evening Session.
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.