Team Ireland recorded two wins on the second day of boxing at the World Boxing Cup Brazil.
Daina Moorehouse has won through to the Last 16. The 51kg Wicklow boxer took on New Zealand’s Ashley Belk in Foz do Iguacu, and came away with the 5-0 win. Judges scored the bout 27:30; 27:30; 26:30; 27:30; 27:30. She boxes Poland’s Natalia Kuczewska for a quarter finals berth on Thursday.
Speaking to Boxing Ireland Brazil Correspondent, Grainne Walsh in Foz do Iguacu after her bout, Daina said “I feel good; happy to get the first one out of the way. The first one is always the toughest. From here now I’ll just keep building on top of it and hopefully get better each time” And, Daina says, it was a new experience fighting an opponent smaller than her “Yeah, I actually think it’s harder because I’m used to punching so high. My punches were actually going over her head. I think I’d rather box taller people!”
Dean Clancy is through to the Last 16. He put in a dominant performance against Romania’s Arun Nicu Tuboroiu and came away with the 5-0 decision. Judges scored the bout 27:30; 28:29; 28:29; 28:29; 27:30 Dean is back in action on Thursday, taking on the winner of the meeting between Mexico and Hungary.
Speaking to Grainne after his bout this evening, Dean said “Delighted, got the first one out of the way. The ball is rolling now for the tournament. I though it was a mature performance and I’m looking forward to going again in my second fight, in two days’ time. So, do a bit of recovery, get the weight down.” He adds “Going in to it, getting the first two rounds out of the way and settle and enjoy myself. It was a mature performance, I didn’t want to mess too much – get the last round out of the way, injury free, no cuts. He sustained a cut in the third round. I did touch me foot at one stage and hit him, so, a bit of flare!”
Michaela Walsh has bowed-out. She contested her 57kg Last 16 bout against USA’s Alyssa Mendoza, and the 5-0 decision went to her opponent. Judges scored the bout 27:30; 27:30; 27:30; 27:30; 27:30.
Of the team yet to box, Patsy Joyce benefits from a bye to the Last 16, and opens his account on Thursday, against the winner of the preliminary between Poland and Tajikistan.
The 10 strong Ireland team includes 6 Olympians in Daina Moorehouse, Jenny Lehane, Michaela Walsh, Jude Gallagher, Dean Clancy and Jack Marley, alongside 2025 World bronze medalist Patsy Joyce, multiple European U23 medalist Louis Rooney. Team members are from clubs in Belfast (3), Dublin (2), Leitrim (1), Louth (1), Tyrone (1) Westmeath (1) and Wicklow (1).
This is the first stage in the 2026 World Boxing Cup series, taking place in Foz do Iguaçu. The series is a benchmark competition run across three tournaments, designed for Elite male and female boxers to accrue ranking points. Almost 400 boxers from 50 National Federations, are registered to take part from countries including Brazil, China, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Poland, Romania, Spain, Tajikistan, Türkiye and USA.
All drawsheets and results are available here
Day Three
There are four Team Ireland boxers in action on Day Three
Jenny Lehane has a bye to the Last 16 in the 54kg category and makes her tournament debut against against Venezuela’s Diana Mastre on Wednesday. That’s Bout 3 of Ring A’s Afternoon Session, at around 3:30pm, Irish time.
Five bouts later, in the same ring and session, 60kg Jude Gallagher returns for his second bout of the tournament. He boxes for a quarter final place against USA’s Salim Ellis-Bey at approximately 4:45pm.
In Ring A’s Evening Session, 70kg Evelyn Igharo gets her competition underway against Paris Olympian and former pro boxer, Mexico’s Citlallo Vanessa Ortiz. That’s Bout 8, at around 10:45pm.
Over in Bout 9 of Ring B’s Evening Session, Louis Rooney will open his account at Last 16 stage in a 50kg category with 13 boxers, taking on Morocco’s Issam Bensayar for a place in the Quarter Finals.
Watch
The host federation, Condederacao Brasileira de Boxe, will live-stream the tournament on its YouTube channel, here. Links, per ring and session, will be published daily in advance of boxing.
All Afternoon Sessions begin at 3pm, Irish time. Evening Sessions get underway at 9pm.
Boxers
50kg Louis Rooney, Star BC, Belfast.
51kg Daina Moorehouse, Enniskerry Boxing Club, Wicklow.
54kg Jenny Lehane, DCU Boxing Club, Dublin
55kg Patsy Joyce, Olympic BC, Mullingar
57kg Michaela Walsh, Holy Family GG Boxing Club, Belfast
60kg Jude Gallagher, Two Castles OBA, Tyrone
65kg Dean Clancy, Sean McDermott Boxing Club, Leitrim
70kg Evelyn Igharo, Clann Naofa Boxing Club, Louth
70kg Jon McConnell, Holy Trinity Boxing Club, Belfast
90kg Jack Marley, Monkstown Boxing Club, Dublin
Support Staff
Team Lead/ Head Coach: Damian Kennedy
Coaches: Lynne McEnery, James Doyle, Jay Delaney
Physio: Rob Tuomey
PA: Alan Swanton
About World Boxing Cup, Brazil
- Ranking points available: Gold Medal, 150 points. Silver medal 100 points. Bronze medal 75 points.
- Foz do Iguacu, Brazil, is four hours ahead of Ireland.
- Boxing takes place April 20th to 26th. All finals will be boxed on April 26th. There is no rest day in this competition.
- All Afternoon Sessions begin at 3pm, Irish time. Evening Sessions get underway at 9pm.
- Condederacao Brasileira de Boxe will live-stream the tournament on its YouTube channel HERE
About the World Boxing Cup series
World Boxing Cup: Brazil 2026 is the first stage in the 2026 World Boxing Cup series. It is a high-level Olympic-style amateur boxing competition run across three tournaments, designed for elite male and female boxers to accrue ranking points.
World Box Cup: China will take place in Guiyang City, China from 15–20 June. The series will culminate in the World Boxing Cup Finals, which will take place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from 25 November- 2 December 2026