Ireland dealt major blows at Women’s World Boxing Championships

IRELAND have just two medal hopefuls left at this year’s Women’s World Boxing Championships after suffering two more defeats in Niš, Serbia.

The International Boxing Association (IBA) tournament has been stained by an ongoing theme of contentious decisions, often swinging against a selection of Ireland’s most elite amateur boxers.

Belfast featherweight Michaela Walsh took to social media shortly after losing a unanimous decision to home fighter Andjela Brankovic on Monday, alleging corruption against IBA.

“This was a victory… It was clear as day,” she wrote on her Instagram post. “I refuse to let corruption define my story.”

Another Irish fighter, Daina Moorehouse, found herself on the wrong end of a split decision yesterday, losing her light-flyweight bout to China’s Meiyi Hu.

A similar story then unfolded during the evening session, with Ireland’s Gráinne Walsh losing a contentious split decision against Uzbekistan welterweight Navbakhor Khamidova.

At no point in her bout was Walsh given an opportunity to build a lead on the scorecards. Instead, the referee issued a standing count against her – with the reason for which still remaining a mystery – before deducting a point for an infringement that her opponent was equally guilty of.

Despite still being affiliated with IBA, the Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) voted last October to remove all references to the Russian-backed body from its constitution.

And while the constitutional change is yet to take place, the vote has, in turn, opened the door for a likely switch to World Boxing, with the breakaway group having recently earned provisional recognition to organise Olympic boxing.

So with just the O’Rourke sisters, Aoife and Lisa, left in this year’s competition, the 2025 World Championships could be one of Ireland’s last, and most disappointing, IBA tournaments.

One Ireland-based fighter who could not be further removed from disappointment, however, was Josefien Betist, a talented lightweight representing West African nation Sierra Leone.

“It’s unreal,” said an elated Betist after outpointing her Latvian opponent. “I didn’t even think I’d be standing here three years ago when I stopped boxing, so to win one fight at the World Championships is just amazing.

“I’m super honoured to be here representing Sierra Leone. I just want to be happy, have fun – have the best time of my life – and whatever happens after happens after.”

Another standout performer from the afternoon session was Serbian lightweight Natalia Shadrina, who claimed a dominant unanimous decision victory over Armenia’s Elida Kocharyan.

As a Paris Olympian, the home fighter is considered one of the favourites to storm through this year’s championships and, judging by her round of 16 bout, she certainly looks to be a formidable force.

It did not take long, however, for another moment of controversy to emerge.

DPR Korea’s Jin Hyang Park occupied the ring for well over ten minutes following her split decision defeat to Moroccan featherweight Widad Bertal.

This was in protest to a bout review that kept the result 4-3 in favour of her opponent, and despite making their feelings known, the Korean boxing team was ultimately unable to reach a satisfactory resolution.

The most shocking turn of events, though, has of course been the fact that an eight-strong Irish team has now been reduced to two.

For a nation with such a rich history in amateur boxing, a place where medals are often more widely celebrated than belts, it has surely been a sickening tournament.