AmateurHeadline News

MEDAL UPGRADE: Amy Broadhurst secures SILVER at European Under-22s


Amy Broadhurst upgraded to silver this afternoon at the European Under-22 Championships in Vladikavkaz and will look to claim gold on St Patrick’s Day.

The Dundalk lightweight showed her class and then her grit in her semi-final in Russia today move up the podium and is now just nine minutes away from climbing back to the top step which she populated at the championships last year.

Broadhurst beat France’s Fatia Benmassahel on a unanimous decision in the Caucuses to sail into the final which falls on our national holiday.

The Louth southpaw, the gold medal favourite here, had cruised into the semis with dominant wins over Turk En Gizem and Hungarian Kinga Mezovari. Benmessahel had also impressed, stopping Azeri Aliya Valizada before beating German Anne-Marie Retzer to guarantee a bronze which she was unable to upgrade here.

The Frenchwoman was rangy and had pedigree having won European Youth gold in 2017 but was no match for Broadhurst who had her timed from the off.

The Muirhevnamor 21-year-old began strongly, landing heavy shots which visibly harred Benmessahel before targeting the body beautifully.

Up on her toes in the second, Broadhurst rattled off one-two after one-two which arrowed through the guard of her younger foe. Benmessahel was game and kept coming forward swinging, making it a physically tough fight for the Irishwoman but her class was showing in the exchanges

Benmessahel’s constant pressure started to pay some dividends at the start of the third as Broadhurst’s feet slowed slightly and she was forced to take more shots than in her previous two fights combined. The Dealgan woman, however, was able to box smart and still land some eye-catching clearn shots to see out the fight.

Going to the cards, Broadhurst was confirmed a unanimous decision winner (no scorelines provided) and almost looked surprised at the verdict.

Her international medal haul now stands at European Junior gold, European Youth gold, European Union Youth gold, European Youth silver, European Under-22 gold, and at least another silver here.

It will be a clash of champions in the final on Sunday with Broadhurst facing strong Italian Rebecca Nicoli, winner at 64kg last year.

Broadhurst, of course, beat Italian opposition in the final last year, claiming a unanimous decision win over Francesca Martusciello.

Nicoli defeated Shona Whitwell in the corresponding semi today to deny us an Ireland v England decider on St Patrick’s Day.

For Broadhurst, the continental final is especially notable as it falls on her 22nd birthday and she will be hoping to celebrate with yet another gold medal

The draws in full can be seen here.

Friday March 8th
(Last 16)
60kg Amy Broadhurst (Ireland) beat En Gizem (Turkey) 5-0
64kg Shauna O’Callaghan (Ireland) lost to Chelsey Heijnen (Netherlands) RSC2

Saturday March 9th
Last 32
60kg David Oliver Joyce (Ireland) beat Oleg Chulkyacheyev (Ukraine) 5-0
69kg Paddy Donovan (Ireland) beat Sam Wagensvela (Netherlands) 4-1
75kg Gabriel Dossen (Ireland) beat Andrei Vreme (Moldova) 5-0

Sunday March 10th
Last 16
57kg Mary Geraghty (Ireland) lost to Victoria Glover (Scotland) 0-5
60kg David Oliver Joyce (Ireland) lost Beslan Khamzaev (Russia) 1-4
64kg Pierce O’Leary (Ireland) lost to Mike McDonagh (Wales) 0-5

Monday March 11th
Last 16
69kg Paddy Donovan (Ireland) lost to Vakhid Abbasov (Russia) 0-5
75kg Gabriel Dossen (Ireland) beat Alberto Simion (Romania) 5-0

Tuesday March 12th
Q/Finals
51kg Niamh Earley (Ireland) lost to Giovanna Marchese (Italy) 0-5
60kg Amy Broadhurst (Ireland) beat Kinga Mezovari (Hungary) 5-0
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Ireland) lost to Anastasiya Shamonovan (Russia) 0-5

Wednesday March 13th
Q/Finals
52kg Adam Hession (Ireland) lost to Rotyslav Bilototskyi (Ukraine) 0-5
75kg Gabriel Dossen (Ireland) lost to Aleksei Semykin (Russia) AB3

Friday March 15th
S/Finals
60kg Amy Broadhurst (Ireland) beat Fatia Benmassahel (France) 5-0

Sunday March 17th
Finals
60kg Amy Broadhurst (Ireland) v Rebecca Niccoli (Italy)

48kg No entrant
51kg Niamh Earley (Ryston)
52kg Adam Hession (Monivea)
54kg No entrant
56kg No entrant
57kg Mary Geraghty (St Anthony’s)
60kg Amy Broadhurst (Dealgan) (Silver, at least)
60kg Davey Oliver Joyce (Ballymun)
64kg Shauna O’Callaghan (Clann Naofa)
64kg Pierce O’Leary (Dublin Docklands)
69kg No entrant
69kg Patrick Donovan (OLOL)
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea) C
75kg Gabriel Dossen (Olympic) C
81kg No entrant
81kg No entrant
+81kg No entrant
91kg No entrant
+91kg No entrant

Team Manager: Stephen Molloy
Head Coach: Dmitry Dmitruk
Coaches: Anita Just, Philip Keogh

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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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