Aoife and Lisa O’Rourke have medaled at the European Elite Championships in Sofia.
Aoife has won her fifth confederation level medal, after an absolutely titanic battle. The double Olympian and reigning World champion boxed her European Elite Championship quarter final against Poland’s Agata Kaczmarska, the reigning 80+kg World Champion. They went toe-to-toe for three power-driven rounds, with Aoife claiming the win on a 3-2. Judge scored the bout 30:27; 29:28; 28:29; 28:29; 30:27.
Speaking to Boxing Ireland’s Grainne Walsh at ringside, Aoife said It was a battle. That girl never gave in and I’m just thankful I had that bit of fitness to keep me going through all three rounds. I know it’s easy looking in and people saying ‘you’re taller so just keep her out’, but she just kept coming forward.”
And Lisa has won at least a European Elite Championship bronze medal. She was the unanimous decision victor over 2025 World Boxing Championships silver medalist, England’s Emily Asquith in a completely dominant performance. Speaking to Grainne, Lisa said “It’s hard come the quarter-finals with the medal on the line. You don’t forget about the medal, but go in like any fight, give it your best and hope that’s enough.” Of her sister, Lisa added “I look up to Aoife massively. Normally it’s me going in before her but she threw it back on me today and said ‘I have to put it in place and keep the vibes going’ and thankfully she did. I knew she’d be well able.
Daina Moorehouse has exited championships despite a skilfull performance against a taller, rangier opponent. The 51kg Paris Olympian took on World and European Games bronze medalist, Spain’s Laura Fuentes Fernandez in her quarter final in Sofia. The 4-1 decision went to Fuentes Fernandez, scored 30:27; 29:28; 27:30; 29: 28 Daina’s EEC journey has included a win over Bulgaria’s Zlatislava Chukanova.
Not to be for heavyweight, Jack Marley. The Paris Olympian contested a tough, physical heavyweight quarter final against 2022 European and 2023 World medalist, Georgia’s Georgii Kushitashvli. The 4-1 result went to the Georgian boxer, on a scoreline of 30: 27; 29:28; 30:27; 30:27; 28:29. Jack’s European Elite Championship journey included victory over Aryan Panah Saed of the World Boxing Refugee Team.
Evelyn Igharo’s European campaign has drawn to a close. The 70kg boxer contested her quarter final against Chantelle Reid, a Paris Olympian, World and Commonwealth Games medalist and Evelyn had periods of success leveraging her power, height and reach.
The judges scored the 5-0 decision for Reid: 30:27; 30:27; 30:27; 30:27. Her European Elite Championship journey has included a win over Belarussian, Aryna Danilchyk.
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. The complete album is available here
How to Watch
Eurovision Sport will broadcast the complete championships here: https://eurovisionsport.com/en/home
The RTE Player is streaming Ring A sessions in which Team Ireland box here: https://www.rte.ie/player/
Day Seven
Another big day for Team Ireland on Thursday, with two boxers vying for medals, and three for medal up-grades.
Jude Gallagher returns to the ring after his powerhouse L16 performance, where he won by RSC 3. He takes on Spain’s Ewart Andres Marin Hernandez. The 22 year old is a former World Youth silver medalist, and was a silver medalist at August’s Mediterranean Games. That is Bout 8 in Ring A’s Afternoon Session, at around 1:30pm.
Double Olympian Michaela Walsh takes on triple Olympian, home boxer Stanimira Petrova, for a place on the podium. The two have met twice before, and have one win apiece. That quarter final is Bout 2 of Ring A’s Evening Session, at approx 4:15pm.
In Bout 4 of the same ring and session, now five-time continental medalist, Aoife O’Rourke, takes on Russia’s Saltanat Medenova for a place in the finals. Medenova is a 2025 IBA World champion. They are due in the ring at around 4:45pm.
In the next bout, her sister Lisa, a World gold and silver medalist, takes on Ukraine’s Iryna Lutsak for a place in the finals. Lutsak is a multiple European U23 medalist. That bout should be underway at 5pm.
And Jon McConnell returns for his fourth bout of the tournament. He boxes his semi-final against Nabi Isgandarov of Azerbaijan, a World Boxing Cup Brazil bronze medalist. That’s Bout 9 of Ring B’s Evening Session, at around 6:15pm.
Schedules Ring A, Afternoon Session | Ring B, Afternoon Session | Ring A, Evening Session | Ring B, Evening Session
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