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History-maker Christina Desmond has Thai Odyssey Ended

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Cork’s Christina Desmond has seen her World University Championships campaign ended today in Thailand.

The Fr Horgans’s fighter took on Poland’s Natalia Hollinska in the semi finals in Chiang Mai but lost out despite a huge performance

Boxing out of a southpaw stance, Desmond immediately found a home for her backhand left and looked physically much larger and stronger in the opener, winning 10-8 on one of the three cards.

Hollinska upped her work-rate in the second and began to pressure Desmond. While the Irishwoman landed some quality shots and showed some good footwork, the Pole was certainly growing into the bout and starting to outland Desmond.

While Desmond had scored a comprehensive win over Kazakh Zura Kussainova in the quarter finals, Hollinska received a bye straight into the semis, and the Leesider seemed to be tiring in the third – although she did have a strong final thirty.

Needing a big final round, the Rebelette summoned a huge performance to score some with heavy shots, although Hollinska was still the busier and was awarded the fight following a crucial point deduction awarded against Desmond for holding.

The final scorecards read 37-37, 37-38, 37-38 to give Hollinska a majority decision win.

The Limerick Institute of Technology middleweight, Ireland’s first ever medalist at the championships, will now return to Ireland with bronze, her first major senior international medal.

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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