AmateurHeadline News

Gráinne Walsh angered by loss but happy with display following “impossible” defeat


Gráinne Walsh was left incredulous last night after falling to a second split-decision defeat in four days.

The Offaly welterweight is part of the Irish squad touring America and was edged in a war on Monday by Oshae Jones.

Walsh renewed hostilities with the Panamerica Championships middleweight silver medalist last night in Springfield, Massachusetts in a dramatic fight. A short flurry from Jones sent Walsh down in the opening round but the Sparticus fighter rose and went hell for leather with her U.S. counterpart.

A thrilling encounter, Walsh was left despondant after three rounds when she was again ruled a split-decision loser.

The verdict – the second of five consecutive splits ruled against Irish boxers – angered the fighter, the Irish coaches, and her team mates.

While annoyed by the result, Walsh was happy with her display in which she buzzed her bigger opponent.

Looking back afterward, the 22-year-old EU bronze medalist described how “I felt I lost the first round, but I felt that it was impossible to give the second and third round against me.”

“I caught her with big, big shots.”

“I fought her Monday and I wanted to correct the mistakes I made in that fight, I did that.”

High Performance Director Bernard Dunne was not getting tied up in the decisions and noted the importance of building – with European and World Championships for women this year and European Games, European Championships, and World Championships next year for the men..

Delighted with his squad’s showings thus far, the Dubliner outlined how “we’re very much focused on performances. There are no gold medals won at competitions like this. It’s all about building toward the majors, Europeans, Worlds and Olympic Games.“

“The squad are focused on trying to implement things.They’re trying to improve all the time, and, I have to say, throughout this whole journey in the States, they have been absolutely superb.”

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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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