Three more Team NI boxers have won through to the quarter finals of the Commonwealth Games, following a bumper day of action in Glasgow.
First up was team co-captin, Caitlin Fryers. She put on a dominant, stylish display in her 51kg Last 16 contest against Zinnat Ferdous of Bangladesh to claim a 5-0 win. Judges scored the bout 26: 30; 26:30; 27:29; 27:29; 26:30 – reflecting a point deduction for the Bangladeshi boxer. Speaking to TNT Sport after her contest, Cailtin said the win has given her confidence “Oh, 100%. It’s the first one. Anytime I tracked up the gear she just held, so I kind of knew I had to pick my shots and move, rather than getting stuck in them tangles” Caitlin, of Immaculata BC, is back in action on Wednesday boxing for a medal Sakshi of India in the quarter finals.
Paris Olympian Jude Gallagher is one win away from a Commonwealth Games medal. He contested his 60kg Last 16 bout in Glasgow against Pakistan’s Qudrat Ullah and was the 4-0 victor. Judges scored the bout 28:28; 26:30; 26:30; 26:30, 27:29, reflecting a point deduction for Ullah. There’s a quick turnaround for the Two Castles OBA clubman – he’s back in action on Wednesday evening, boxing for a medal against Zambia’s Albert Ngulube.
Speak to TNT Sport after his bout, Jude, the Birmingham 2022 featherweight champ, said he was surprised at the decision “Yeah, I was. I thought I crusied through that. A bit sloppy at times and he was dangerous so I had to take my foot off the gas a bit just to avoid a couple of head clashes because I was getting banged in the head and I didn’t want to risk getting any cuts….I knew I was safe enough but whenever you hear a split decision in boxing, you just don’t know! Glad to get the first one out of the way. Here, it’s been a long wait. Out here nearly a week and itching to get forward. ‘
Of Ullah, Jude adds “Awkward opponent. Tricky, awkward, but good at what he does”. He says it wasn’t important to make a statement tonight “Ach, not really. I just take every fight as it comes. I don’t look at my route to the final, I just look at my next performance.
Jon McConnell has won through to the Commonwealth Games QFs in dramatic style. He contested his 70kg Last 16 contest in Glasgow against India’s Summit in a tight, physical hotly contested bout. The bout ended with the scores level on four cards, following a point deduction for the Belfast man.
When asked to select their winner, four of the five judges chose McConnell. The bout was scored: 28:28; 28:28; 29:27, 28:28; 28:28. He boxes for a medal on Wednesday evening, against Carl Heild of the Bahamas.
Speaking to TNT Sports on his way out of the ring, Jon said “Ubbeliveable. He was a top operation. We knew I had a chance after the second round. I stuck to the game plan; thanks to the coaches. I just kept working, kept believing in myself. I had a bit of a dodgy first round. A few decisions against me but I kept the head. I’m a problem in this weight division. Let’s go!’.
He adds “A bit of luck. My last few tournaments I’ve gone 3-2 out, 3-2 out. Luck, hard work, dedication and let’s go for a medal. I’m only coming for gold.
Eoghan Quinn exits the CWG on an agonizing split decision. The 80kg St. John’s Swatragh contested his Last 16 contest against Jade Micock of the Seychelles – the 4-1 split went to his opponent. Judges scored the bout 30:27; 30:27; 30:27; 29:28; 28: 29. Speaking to TNT Sport after the bout, Eoghan said “Maybe I just didn’t do enough at times. I thought I was stealing punches in some of the rounds but maybe it wasn’t enough for the judges on the day. What can you do? We’ll go again.” He adds that he would have preferred to have a bout under his belt before this contest ‘It’s the same with everyone tournament. You want to get over you and you’re flying after it. Look, that’s just the way it went today. You can’t really complain about it. He won today, and fair play to him’
And, Eoghan adds “It’s a great privilege even to be here, seeing hte opening ceremony and being part of it and looking at that crowd. Sure you couldn’t beat it.”
Day Five
Three Team NI boxers are between the ropes in Glasgow on Tuesday, and all box for medals.
At 1pm, Team NI’s Kaci Rock of Holy Trinity BC boxes her quarter final against Niue’s Karen Te Ruki Pasene.
Team NI heavyweight, North Down’s Garyn McAllister opens his account at QF stag against Ghana’s Jibirl Muntair at 2.45pm.
At 6pm, Nicole Clyde is back in action. She boxes her second bout of the tournament against India’s Preeti: a Paris Olympian, and the reigning Asian and World champion at the weight.
The Games
Boxing at the SEC Centre on the Scottish Event Campus will take place from Friday July 24th to Saturday, August 1st,: July 30th is a rest day.
Afternoon Sessions will, typically, begin at 11am and Evening Sessions at 6pm. The complete Games schedule is available here
How to Watch
- Every event will be available exclusively live across all subscription plans, including TNT Sports 2 (The Commonwealth Games 360) and all live event streams. Further details on plans and pricing can be found here.
- EE TV: Customers can enjoy all the action via TNT Sports on HBO Max dependent on their subscription type.
- Sky: Customers can enjoy the full Commonwealth Games experience on TNT Sports and HBO Max, depending on their subscription.
- NOW: Customers can access the Commonwealth Games 360 channel via TNT Sports 2 with a Now Entertainment & HBO Max Membership, and in Ireland via TNT Sports
- Virgin Media TV UK and Ireland: TNT Sports customers can watch the coverage via their set-top box (as well as via HBO Max in the U.K).
- Prime Video: In the UK, coverage is available via a TNT Sports subscription. TNT Sports 2 and all live event streams are also available on any HBO Max subscription.
Team NI
51kg Caitlin Fryers, Immaculata BC
54kg Nicole Clyde, Antrim BC.
55kg Louis Rooney, Star BC
57kg Michaela Walsh, Holy Family BC
60kg Jude Gallagher Two Castles OBA
65kg JP Hale, Star BC
65kg Kaci Rock, Holy Trinity BC
70kg Jon McConnell, Holy Trinity BC
70kg Janssen Hill, Holy Trinity BC
80kg Eoghan Quinn, St John’s, Swatragh
90kg Garyn McAllister, North Down BC
90+kg Willie Jon McCartan, Gilford BC