Ireland hoping to continue proud European record

By IABA Press Officer Bernard O’Neill

Irish boxing will be aiming to maintain its proud tradition of having won medals at every European Schoolboy Championships since the inaugural tournament in Rome in 2003 at the 2016 edition of the Championships in Zagreb, Croatia later this month.

David Joyce secured Ireland’s first gold medal at this level in Rome thirteen years ago and Beijing and Rio 2008 and 2016 Olympians John Joe Joyce and David Oliver Joyce claimed bronze. Carl Frampton took home silver from the Eternal City. English prospect Amir Khan won gold at the same tournament.

Ireland’s eleven gold medallist at this level are:  David Joyce (2003), Willie O’Reilly (2004), Stephen O’Reilly (2004), Michael O’Reilly (2007), Michael McDonagh (2007), John Joyce (2011), Oliver McCarthy (2012), James McGivern (2012) Michael Nevin (2012), Aaron McKenna (2013) and Jordan Myres (2013).

“We won two gold and Joe (Ward) won silver and we won quite a few bronze medals at the 2007 European Schoolboys Championships in Portsmouth. It was a big tournament for us at the time and we had a strong team in England,” recalled Rio 2016 Olympian and AIBA World No. 2 ranked middleweight Michael O’Reilly.

Irish boxing has claimed 11 gold, 15 silver and 43 bronze medals from the European Schoolboy Championships since Rome 2003. Click here for all results.

The 2016 European Schoolboy Championships begins in Zagreb on July 24th.  The Irish squad for Croatia will be ratified shortly.