Michaela Walsh strikes gold at Boxing World Cup
Belfast featherweight Michaela Walsh added World Cup gold to her laundry list of achievements today.
The Monkstown puncher took top prize at 57kg in the multi-nations tournament formerly known as the Chemistry Cup in Cologne this afternoon.
The EU gold, double Commonwealth silver, and European bronze medallist beat India’s World Youth champion Sakshi Choudary on a unanimous decision to top the 57kg podium.
Boxing well within herself, Walsh won all three rounds to become the first Irish female champion at the tournament which has recently been dubbed a ‘mini Worlds’
It’s perfect preparation for Walsh ahead of the European Games in Minsk this summer and the World Championships in Ulan-Ude in the Autumn – where Olympic qualification is expected to be on the line.
Earlier today, another Belfast boxer Carly McNaul had to settle for silver after an extremely close flyweight final with Armenia’s Anush Grigoryan.
Afterwards Dublin heavyweight Tony Browne lost out to heavy Muslim Gadzhimagomedov in the 91kg decider.
The Russian, who was beaten by Joe Ward in the 2017 European light heavyweight final, had his hands more than full with Browne in all three rounds before taking a points decision after an open and tactical contest.
Ireland will be taking home gold, courtesy of Walsh, 2 silver, courtesy of McNaul and Browne, and bronze, courtesy of Ward – who dubiously lost yesterday – from this year’s edition, our best ever haul.
Cologne World Cup (Chemistry Cup) Cologne, Germany
April 13
Finals
51kg Carly McNaul (Ireland) lost to Anush Grigoryan (Armenia) 2-3
57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Sakshi Choudary (India) 5-0
91kg Tony Browne (Ireland) lost to Muslim Gadzhimagomedov (Russia) 0-5
April 12
S/Finals
51kg Carly McNaul (Ireland) beat Pinki Rani (India) 3-2
57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Lenuta Lacramioara (Romania) 5-0
81kg Joe Ward (Ireland) lost to Abu-Lubdeh Abdulrahman (Germany) 2-3
91kg Tony Browne (Ireland) beat Brandon Ress (Australia) 5-0
April 11
Q/Finals
51kg Carly McNaul (Ireland) beat Mungustsetseg Enkhjargal (Mongolia) 5-0
57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Delgerkhnga Khongorzul (Mongolia) 5-0
57kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) lost to Albert Batyrgaziev (Russia) 0-5
69kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) lost to Liu Yang (China) 0-5
69kg Grainne Walsh (Ireland) lost to Nadine Apetz (Germany) 2-3
75kg Emmet Brennan (Ireland) lost to Gleb Bakshi (Russia) 0-5
81kg Joe Ward (Ireland) beat Jilei Zhang (China) 5-0
91kg Tony Browne (Ireland) beat Zhiabao Wang (China) RET2
April 10
Last 16
56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Eric Petrosyan (Armenia) 5-0
51kg Carly McNaul (Ireland) beat Angelika Krysztoforska (Poland) 5-0
63kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) lost to Jorge Moiran (Cuba) 2-3
63kg James McGivern (Ireland) lost to Enrico La Cruz (Netherlands) 0-5
69kg Kieran Molloy (Ireland) lost to Otgonbaatar Bymba (Mongolia) 0-4
91kg+ Dean Gardiner (Ireland) lost to Sergei Egorov (Russia) 2-3
52kg Brendan Irvine (Ireland) lost to Galai Yafai (England) 0-5
75kg Emmet Brennan (Ireland) beat Rafael Perczynski (Poland) 5-0
81kg Joe Ward (Ireland) beat Piotr Sczukowski (Poland) 5-0
Irish squad
51kg Carly McNaul (Holy Family) (Silver)
57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown) (Gold)
69kg Christina Desmond (Fr Horgan’s)
69kg Grainne Walsh (Spartacus)
52kg Brendan Irvine (St Paul’s)
57kg Kurt Walker (Canal)
63kg James McGivern (St George’s)
63kg Wayne Kelly (Portlaoise)
69kg Kieran Molloy (Oughterard)
75kg Emmet Brennan (Glasnevin)
81kg Joe Ward (Spartacus) (Bronze)
91kg Tony Browne (St Michael’s) (Silver)
91kg+ Dean Gardiner (Clonmel)
Team Manager: Bernard Dunne
Coaches: Zaur Antia, John Conlan, Damian Kennedy
Physiotherapist: Muireann Harte
Physiologist: Damain Martin
