One Win Away From a Medal – Three Progress to European Championship Quarter Finals
Three Team Ireland boxers have won through to the quarter-finals of the European Elite Championships.
Daina Moorehouse, Lisa O’Rourke and Jon McConnell were all last 16 victors in Sofia on Saturday.
Paris Olympian Daina Moorehouse is through to the QFs, with a 3-2 win over Bulgaria’s Zlatislava Chukanova. The pair last met at the 2nd Olympic Qualifier in Bangkok in the battle for a quota place where Moorehouse was also the victor . Judges scored today’s bout: 29:28; 29:28; 27:30; 28:29; 29:28. The Wicklow fighter will take on World and European Games bronze medalist, Spain’s Laura Fuentes Fernandez for a medal.
Moorehouse last contested against the Spanish boxer at the 2025 World Boxing Championships, and lost on a dreaded 3-2 split.
Speaking to Boxing Ireland’s Grainne Walsh after her contest, she said said “I’m delighted to get the win. It was a really tough fight. The first one always is. She was game today. First round I think she was trying to counter me more than put the pressure on, which is what she’d usually do. Come in to the third, she put the pressure on. It was getting messy; it was getting tangly, but I knew I was up on two.’
The two have met before and the Edenderry boxer said that experience was helpful “When I knew I was fighting the Bulgaria – obviously, I boxed her to qualify for the Olympic Games – so I suppose it was nice, knowing what she was like and having a game plan.”
Lisa O’Rourke is an 80kg quarter finalist, following an utterly dominant performance in her Last 16 contest against Vasiliki Stavridou of Greece. The younger of two decorated boxing sisters forced two standing counts in the third round, and won all rounds on all cards. Judges scored the bout 30:26; 30:26; 30:26; 30:26; 30:25. O’Rourke is back in action in Tuesday’s Evening Session, where she’ll take on 2025 World Boxing Championships silver medalist, Emily Asquith.
Speaking after her bout, the Rosscomon native said “Delighted. Look, it’s been just over a year since I’ve been in the ring…Its hard work to get back in to the ring. I’m delighted to be here representing Ireland, and to get a win under my belt for my first bout. Happy days!”
She adds “I suppose I didn’t really expect to get this competition in this year, so its really just taking it as a bonus. We you go through an injury like that, you don’t take these moments for granted so, to get back in the ring in an Irish vest – Immensely proud.’
Jon McConnell is one win away from a European Elite Championship medal, following 70kg Last 16 victory over Poland. The Commonwealth Games champion contested against Tokyo Olympian and the 2026 World Boxing Cup Brazil champion, Poland’s Damian Durkacz, and claimed a 4-1 win. Judges scored the bout 29:28; 29:28; 29:28; 29:28; 28:29. Jon is back in action in Monday’s Evening Session, boxing for a medal against Gabriele Guidi Rontani of Italy, the reigning Mediterranean Games champion and a World Boxing Cup China bronze medalist at 75kg.
Speaking to Walsh post his bout he said “We knew he was a quality operator, but I stuck to the tactics, giving that lead hand every time. Catching him with the jab. I think it was level on three going in to the last, and a good last minute of the last round. Good fight, and fair play to him”.
“This is sort of my coming-of-age year this year, on the back of the Commonwealths. Winning the Europeans is a step up. Two down, three to go. Gold medal only.”
An excellent performance in a testy bout, but not to be for Shannon Sweeney in her 48kg Last 16 contest. She boxed Italy’s Chiara Mosetti, and won the first round 4-1, before receiving a count in the second of a contest fought largely at close distance. The final score was 4-1, and judges scored the bout: 28:29; 28:29; 29:28; 28:29; 27:30.
