‘Self Belief’ Pushed John Donoghue to European Gold
Belief was the key ingredient to John Donoghue’s is a European success.
The Olympic Mulingar talent claimed European U19 Gold on a fab Friday for Irish boxing.
A World champion and multiple European medalist, Donoghue claimed the win in dominant fashion. He stopped Georgia’s Akaki Basaria, himself a World bronze medalist, and multiple European medalist in the second round of an eagerly anticipated final.
Speaking after his win, the teen prospect said his self-belief was the deciding factor.
“I boxed a good Georgian opponent, he had a good tournament. The difference between me and him in the ring – I got in the ring and believed in myself. His coaches had to tell him that he was going to do it. I stopped him in the second round. That’s the current European champion at 70kg, Last year I boxed at 65kg. It just shows I’m one of the best in the world.”
Donoghue began his tournament at Last 32 stage, and also recorded wins over wins over Russia’s Egor Skarednev, Czechia’s Jan Sykora, Bosnia & Herzegovina’s Rejjan Jakupovic and Azerbaijan’s Rza Rzayev.
His Olympic BC Mullingar club mate, Louise Joyce, comes home from Serbia with 48kg silver. The double European medalist suffered defeat to England’s Lily Basset
Kristian Jubani also suffered defeat on finals day and will come home Serbia with 50kg silver. The triple European medalist boxed his final against Georgia’s Shavla Beridze Shavla, himself, a two time European medalist. The split decision went to the Georgian boxer.
