Lambe and Walsh join Taylor in European quarters

By IABA Press Officer Bernard O’Neill

Joanna Lambe and Michaela Walsh joined Olympic champion Katie Taylor in the quarter-finals of the European Women’s Championships after recording last-16 wins in Bucharest, Romania today.

The Irish trio will be back in action tomorrow looking to guarantee themselves at least bronze and join Clare Grace in Friday’s semi-finals. Thursday is a rest day at the tournament.

Walsh progressed following a tough four-rounder with Ivanna Krupena of the Ukraine, the Belfast bantam booking her ticket into the last-eight on a split decision.

All of the judges went with Lambe, who boxes out of the Carrickmacross BC in Monaghan, versus Croatian feather Marija Petric.

Petric, who was beaten by Katie Taylor in Cork last month, was a constant ball of aggression throughout, but Lambe held her composure and skilfully used her reach and counter-punching know how to progress

Earlier today, Cavan BC flyweight Ceire Smith bowed out on a split decision to 2012 European Youth silver medallist Nur Caskun of Turkey.

Smith worked well behind her jab and found the target with some solid backhands, but the aggressive Caskun edged the close exchanges to sway the judges from a close 51kg four-rounder.

“I’m a counter puncher too, you have to sacrifice to try and score. I knew it was close. But it was the second round I think where I really messed up and let it get on top of me. But I knew it was close,” Smith told the Irish Times.

Wednesday’s quarter-finals begin at 12pm (Irish time). The program will be published here as soon as it is available.

Please see below attachments for Irish draw sheets.

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European Women’s Championships Bucharest, Romania.

June 1st (Last 32 and last 16)

54kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Helina Bruyevigh (Belarus) (last 32) 3-0
60kg Katie Taylor (Ireland) beat Sandra Brugger (Switzerland) (last 16) 3-0

2nd June Last 8 (1/4 final)
69kg Clare Grace (Ireland) beat Kara Guluzar (Turkey) 2-0

3rd June (Last 16)
51kg Ceire Smith (Ireland) lost to Nur Caskun (Turkey) 1-2
54kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Ivanna Krupena (Ukraine) 2-1
57kg Joanne Lambe (Ireland) beat Marija Petric (Croatia) 3-0

June 4th (Q/Finals)
54kg Michaea Walsh (Ireland) v Elena Savelava (Russia)
57kg Joanna Lambe (Ireland) v Svetlana Staneva (Bulgaria)
60kg Katie Taylor (Ireland) v Lavina Ioana Mera (Romania)

June 6th (S/Final)
69kg Clare Grace (Ireland) v Stacey Copeland (England)

Irish Squad

51kg Ceire Smith (Cavan)

54kg Michaela Walsh (Holy Family GG)

57kg Joanne Lambe (Carrickmacross)

60kg Katie Taylor (Bray)

69kg Claire Grace (Callan)

Team manager: Fiona Hennigan

Coaches: Pete Taylor, Zuar Antia, Gerry Storey