Christopher O’Reilly – “I was always confident I would get back”

The next generation of Irish boxers will look to make a name for themselves next week in St Petersburg at the World Youth Championships.

Following on from a camp in Belfast, the nine-man team has gone to Moscow in advance of the tournament for a training camp with Bulgaria, Russia, and Cuba.

For Balbriggan light heavyweight Christopher O’Reilly it’s a return to the Irish team after a few years in the international wilderness. Injuries and selection disputes saw the Dubliner miss out on a few big championships since his trip to the European Schoolboys back in 2012 where he made the quarter finals.

The pro-styled puncher however never lost hope that he’d find his way back into the Irish team, and O’Reilly told Irish-Boxing.com that “I was always confident I would get back to that level and get back representing Ireland again.”

O’Reilly is delighted to be back in the squad following his epic U18 title-winning display against reigning champ Brian Kennedy in August. The Bracken BC man described how “It’s brilliant, I’m back learning loads of new things, implementing new things.”

“It’s great to be wearing the Irish vest again and representing my country.”