Team Ireland’s Lisa O’Rourke has been crowned European Elite 80kg champion, following a thrilling, power-driven final against 2023 World champion, Russia’s Anastasiia Demurchian.
The 4-1 split decision was scored: 29:28; 30:27; 30:27; 28:29; 30:26. Lisa’s path to the top of the podium has included wins over England’s 2025 World Championship silver medalist Emily Asquith, Ukraine’s Iryna Lutsak and Vasiliki Stavridou of Greece.
Speaking to Boxing Ireland’s Grainne Walsh, the 2022 World champion and 2025 World silver medalist she said “I’m delighted. I didn’t know what way it was going to go when its your first tournament, and getting four wins from four and boxing three back-to-back days. It was tough, and it was all new and at a new weight class. Delighted to be on the top of the podium at the end of it all
Lisa’s sister, Aoife, boxes for gold tomorrow and she said ‘I will be as nervous, probably worse than I was, when (Aoife) is getting in. I think that’s always the way for us. Hopefully, we’ll be celerbating twice as hard tomorrow!”
Michaela Walsh will come home from the Sofia with bronze. The double Olympian contested a very tight, technical final against World Boxing Cup Brazil silver medalist, Kukhta Vlagyszlava of Hungary. The 4-1 decision went to the Hungarian boxer, scored: 29:28; 28:29; 28:29; 28:29; 28:29. Her EEC journey has included emphatic wins over Montenegro’s Bojana Gojkovic and triple Olympian, Stanimira Petrova. This is Michaela’s third podium finish this year, after Commonwealth Games and Strandja silver.
Speaking to Boxing Ireland’s Grainne Walsh she said “The first round there was nothing in it, I was down 3-2. I was having a good second round and I think I got caught a bit at the end and that swayed the judges. I had a brilliant, fantastic third round….I’m proud of my performance, and I fought to the very end’
This is Michaela’s third podium finish this year, after Commonwealth Games and Strandja silver. She said ” 2023 was the last time I was on an international podium and came here (Sofia) to Strandja in February and I’ve been on a podium every since…I never gave up, I stuck at it and I always believed in myself. I knew I could produce big performance. I’m grateful to be on a podium here. This is just a stepping stone. On to the next one, on to next year for the Olympic qualifers. I’ve gained a lot of confidence from this tournament, not only in myself, but in my coaches and team mates’
406 boxers are competing in this World Boxing ranking event, drawn from 40 federations: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, World Boxing Refugee Team, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Turkey and Ukraine.
The complete Championship draw is available here.
All images: Magrit Kincses.
How to Watch
Eurovision Sport will broadcast the complete championships here: https://eurovisionsport.com/en/home
Day Nine
Team Ireland’s Aoife O’Rourke will box for her fourth European Championship title on Friday.
The Roscommon woman, who is a double Olympian, will contest her final against Turkey’s Busra Isildar, a multiple World and European medalist.
Aoife has now has five confederation level medals, including European Games gold and 3 European Elite titles.
That bout will take place after 3pm, Irish time.
Team Ireland
48kg Shannon Sweeney, St. Anne’s BC, Mayo
51kg Daina Moorehouse, Enniskerry BC, Wicklow
54kg Jennifer Lehane, DCU BC, Dublin
57kg Michaela Walsh, Holy Family BC, Belfast
60kg Kellie McLoughlin, St. Catherine’s BC, Dublin
60kg Jude Gallagher, Two Castles Olympic, Tyrone
65kg Dean Clancy, Sean McDermott BC, Leitrim
70kg Evelyn Igharo, Clann Naofa BC, Louth
70kg Jon McConnell, Holy Trinity BC, Belfast
75kg Aoife O’Rourke, Castlerea BC, Roscommon
75kg Gavin Rafferty, Dublin Docklands BC
80kg Lisa O’Rourke, Castlerea BC, Roscommon
80+kg Cliona D’Arcy, Tobair Pheadair BC, Galway
90kg Jack Marley, Monkstown BC, Dublin
Support Staff
Team Manager| Jon Mackey
Head Coach | Damian Kennedy
Coach | James Doyle
Coach | Jay Delaney
Coach | Liam Cunningham
Coach | Lynne McEnery
Physiotherapist| Rob Tuomey
Doctor | Dr. Jim Clover
Psychologist | Dr. Paul Aherne
Analyst | Alan Swanton
HOPS | Paul Carragher
About the European Elite Championships
- This is the first European Boxing Elite Championships under the banner of European Boxing and within the World Boxing family
- This is a World Boxing ranking event, with points award from 1st to 8th place: 1st Place -800 points, 2nd Place -500 points; 3rd Place -300 points; 4th Place -300 points and 150 points for those finishing 5th-8th place.
- 40 national federations are eligible to compete in the tournament.
- Competition dates: 17th-25th September. There is no rest day at this tournament. Quarter finals take place on September 22nd and 23rd. , semi finals on September 24th. Finals and medal ceremonies will take place on during the second session on September 24th, and on September 25th.
- Afternoon Sessions will begin at 12pm, Irish time – Evening Sessions will get underway at 4pm.
- Competition venue: Asics Arena, Sofia, Bulgaria