Brotherly Glove – Whelan and Donoghue Brothers Progress in Euros
It was a day for boxing brothers in Serbia today as Team Ireland end Day Two of the European U19 Championships with three wins in the bag.
The Donogue brothers Jason and John both earned victories as did younger brother of senior International James Whelan, Jason.
Jason Donoghue got his tournament underway with a bang. He was the 4-1 winner over Slovakia’s Sebastian Chocholacek in their 65kg Last 32 contest. Judges scored the bout 30:27; 29:28l 29:28l 27:30; 29:28. The Olympic Mullingar talent is back in action on Sunday, taking on Hungary’s Istvan Czifra, boxing for a place in the Quarter Finals. Czifra is the 2025 European U17 63kg champion.
Speaking after his bout, he said “I boxed well. I was supposed to keep my range but I got in to a bit of a scappy fight because the guy was strong but I set down, dug in, dug deep and got the win. But this is the first fight of the tournament and the next one will be better. Thanks to everyone for watching and supporting!”
John Donogue is also through to the Last 16. The much lauded underage talent was the unanimous decision winner over Azerbaijan’s Rza Rzayev in their 70kg Last 32 contest, scored 27:30; 27:30; 27:30; 27:30 27:30. The older of the two siblings is back between the ropes on Sunday, taking on Rejjan Jakupovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina for a Quarter Final berth.
While Jason Whelan makes in 3-from-3. He took on Tomas Kupil of Slovakia in a Last 32 contest at 75kg, and came away with the 3-2 win on a scoreline of 30:27; 30:27; 28:29; 29:28; 28:29 . The Dublin Docklands boxer is back in action on Sunday, boxing for a quarter final place against Georgia’s Goga Bregvadze.
