“The job’s not done” – Michaela Walsh not ready to settle for silver

Michaela Walsh isn’t going to settle for silver and is going all out for gold today.

The Monkstown BC fighter is one of three Irish European Games finalists and the only in action today.

The Belfast feather beat Russia’s Daria Abramova on a 3-2 split decision Friday morning to upgrade her bronze to silver with her third win of the tournament.

It’s another noteworthy achievement for the EU, European, and Commonwealth medal winner, but not one she is content to settle for.

Speaking after yesterday’s win the fighter, whose brother is also an accomplished amateur, instantly set her sights on winning gold and defeating Bulgaria’s Stanmira Petrova in today’s featherweight decider.

“I feel I performed really well but the job’s not done. I’m refocusing and on to the next one,” Walsh explained.

The young talent with Toyko dreams secured her place in the final with a stylish revenge win.,

She managed to stick to the laid out game plan and marred it with natural talent to put in possibly her best display of the tournament.

Indeed, so assured was she throughout the fight, that she felt assured even when she heard ‘split decision’ before the winner was officially confirmed.

“I feel amazing, it’s great to get that win, I boxed that girl last year in the European semi final and it was a close fight so it was great to get one back.”

“Going in I had a perfect game plan and I tried my best to stick with it but obviously when you are fighting such opposition it can go either way.”

“I definitely knew I won the fight, 100 per cent. You are going to get decisions like this. Thank God, I came out on the right side of it,” she added before reflecting on all the hard work she put to reach the final.

“This is what dreams are made of. People think it’s just one week, two weeks.

“There are months, years of training since I started boxing.”

Irish captain Kelly Harrington and Kurt Walker also made it into the gold medal fight in their respective weight categories, but they won’t compete until Saturday.