Medal Alert – Stylish Alfie Jordan adds to Ireland’s European Medal Haul

Alfie Jordan got a busy day for Irish boxing off to a perfect start.

The Olympic Mullingar fighter won the first of eight European Junior Championship quarter-finals to involve Irish fighters in Italy today.

The slick operator won every round on every judge’s score cards to stroll confidently onto the podium. The five-time Irish champion is now a European medal winner after a stylish performance saw him defeat Aledandru Censusa of Moldova this afternoon.

Jordan will look to improve on his bronze medal when he competes in the semi-finals tomorrow.

The victory means Ireland can boast six medal winners as Jordan joins Grace Conway, Niamh Keogh, Ava Henry, Sophie Gray and Mary McDonagh on the podium.

Jordan had to deal with an aggressive attack early in the opening round, as he opponent piled forward, and deal with it he did.

The Olympic Mulingar fighter proved evasive but more importantly was able to punish Censusa’s ambition. It got to the stage the Moldovan was thinking twice about attacking and the skillful Irish teen was able to pick him off to win the round across the board.

A confident Jordan held his feet more in the second and dominated with a still slick put more pro active approach. There were cheek southpaw hooks on display and fast one two’s down the pipe in another stanza every judge gave him.

Censusa came out swinging in the third knowing he needed something dramatic to happen to win the fight. It meant the Midlands fighter had to battle on occasion, something he proved himself capable of, but for the most part he used his feet to avoid trouble and as with every Irish boxer coming through the ranks he had the check hook down.

Calvin Doyle takes on Mihal Daniel Irofte of Romania in Ireland’s next fight.

In bout 10, welter Tadgh O’Donnelly contests against Armenia’s Agrishti Hakobyan, while heavyweight Adam Olaniyan meets home boxer Vincenzo Guida in bout 14 of a very busy day.

In Ring A’s evening session, light fly Jamie Collins is second between the ropes, he boxes Serbia’s Admir Kamensnicanin for a medal. Four bouts later, feather Callum Carragher boxes for a medal against Azerbaijan’s Mahammadali Gasimzade.

Over in Ring B, light bantam John Harty is in action in Bout 4, against Greece’s Kostantinos Sarigiannidis and light welter, Cillian Reilly Lennon meets Armenia’s Marat Mikaelyan.

Team Ireland Squad

Male Boxers:

1. 44-46kg Alfie Jordan (Olympic L)

2. 48kg Jamie Collins (Drimnagh)

3. 50kg Calvin Doyle (Olympic L)

4. 52kg Johnny Harty (Portlaoise)

5. 54kg James Kelly (Holy Trinity)

6. 57kg Callum Carrager (Tredagh)

7. 60kg Ryan Jenkins (Olympic L)

8. 63kg Cillian Reilly (Jobstown)

9. 66kg Tadhg O’Donnell (Four Kings)

10. 70kg Charlie Valbergs (Cherry Orchard). Team Captain

11. 75kg Dylan McShane (St Pauls A)

12. 80kg Jack Teggart Weatherall (St Pauls A)

13. 80+kg Adam Olaniyan (Jobstown)

Female Boxers

1. 44-46kg Sophie Curley Gray (Dealgan)

2. 50kg Grace Conway (Tredagh)

3. 52kg Carlagh Peake (Ballyhaunis)

4. 54kg Niamh Keogh (Olympic L)

5. 57kg Siofra Lawless (Liberty)

6. 60kg Ava Henry (Docklands) Team Captain,

7. 63kg Kayleigh Whelan (Avona)

8. 66kg Sarah Murphy (St Brigids L)

9. 70kg Jodie Byrne (St Teresa’s)

10. 75kg Mary McDonagh (Sliabh Luachra)

11. 80kg Shauna Crehan (Dunboyne)

Team Manager

Martin Fennessy

Coaches

1. Ralph McKay

2. Liam Cunningham

3. Paul O’Toole

4. Linda Morgan

Referee/Judge

Philip Hollowed