Tonnes of Titles – Irish fighters impress at Haringey Box Cup
Irish boxers impressed massively and brought home a huge medal haul from the prestigious Haringey Box Cup over the weekend.
10 Senior A titles were won by Irish fighters with a further win at B level while there were seven Senior A runner-up and five at Youth and Senior B level.
Fighters from Ireland competed for either their individual clubs, a Celtic Team, or the Irish Third-Level Squad.
The huge tournament at the Ally Pally in London always has high Irish representation and success and this year was no different – with Galway middleweight Gabriel Dossen taking home the Best Overall Male award. The World and European Youth bronze medallist defeated River Wilson-Bent in the 75kg (Group B) final.
Such was the high entry levels, the middleweight tournament was split in two – and Irish fighters claimed top prize in both with Thomas O’Toole winning the A Group following a decisive victory over Swede Mindaugas Gedminas
The middleweight roost was well and truly ruled and recent European U22 champion Aoife O’Rourke continued her fine 2018 and transition to the senior ranks by claiming another title here.
There was more middleweight success at B level, with Shane O’Brien from St Francis’s claiming the 75kg title in the secondary class.
Ireland dominated at the lighter weights, with former Irish Elite runners-up Ricky Nesbitt and Regan Buckley winning top prize at flyweight and light flyweight respectively. For Bray’s Buckley, his win over Conor Kelsall saw him transition back in amateur boxing after his short-lived pro career.
At bantam, though, it was silvers, with Limerick’s Tommy Casey being edged out on a tight 3-2 split by Lewis Southgate and Sean Purcell beaten by Shamim Khan.
Representing the British army, Belfast lightweight Alanna Nihell missed out on a fourth Haringey title, losing to Louise Orton in the final – who would win Best Overall Female. It was an all-Irish affair for the men with European Youth bronze medalist Terry McEntee edging past Patryk Adamus on a 3-2 split in the decider.
Ireland actually had three male lightweight finalists but it was second place for Shane Flavin on the other half of the draw. The Kilkenny fighter was beaten by Repton’s Alireza Ghadiri on a split.
Flavin’s older brother, Keith, enjoyed success at light welter, claiming the title in another packed division which was split in three due to numbers – and there were Irish fighters in both other finals. Donegal 64kg Matthew McCole squeaked past Repton’s Alston Ryan but Senan Kelly was beaten by Sam Noakes .
There was a winner at welterweight too, with Corpus Christi’s Lee Reeves claiming top prize. There was no joy though in the other group, with European bronze medallist Dean Walsh being bested on a 3-2 split by Paul Gordon of Harwich.
Ireland’s final Senior title came up at light heavyweight, with Cork’s Tommy Hyde blasting his way to top prize via a second-round stoppage of Dean Freeman
The tournament also has an extensive Youth section and there were more Irish podium finishes here. Recent European silver medallist Dean Clancy had to settle for flyweight silver after being edged out on a 3-2 split by Repton’s Dennis McCann while James Conroy was also beaten on a split by Bailey Phillips in the lightweight final. There was a runners-up spot too for Wexford’s Jack Murphy who lost out to Owen Pirret in the light heavyweight B class
Other runners-up for Ireland, both at Senior B level were Corpus Christi heavyweight Martin Mongan and DCU light heavy Faolan Rahill who were defeated by Franklin Ignatius and Dominick Zieba respectively.
