Ireland’s Amy Broadhurst has secured a bronze medal at the very least, at the U22 European Boxing Championship in Russia, after defeating Hungary’s Kinga Mezovari on a unanimous decision.
The Dundalk fighter dominated the contest from start to finish with her blistering hand speed and punch power, forcing her opponent into a standing count inside the first minute. Broadhurst out-boxed the Hungarian champion, timing her punches to perfection and landing numerous clean left shots.
Victory was never in doubt for the southpaw as she was in cruise control. Broadhurst had qualified for the quarter-finals after another dominant display over Turkey’s En Gizem in the previous round. Broadhurst will now take on France’s Fatia Benmassahel, the 2017 European Youth champion, with a silver medal up for grabs.
Unbelievably delighted to have secured a bronze medal at these europeans! 6 European Championships with 6 European medals ??? making history as we go along! Boxing France next to change the colour.
All the boxers have been class out here with some of them been very unlucky pic.twitter.com/6JaDGNofya— Baby Canelo?? (@amybroadhurst12) March 12, 2019
This is the Dundalk boxer’s sixth European Championship and her sixth European medal. Broadhurst won gold at the same tournament last year, one of her four gold medals at the Europeans. When it comes to medals, Broadhurst isn’t a stranger when it comes to medals as last month she broke the female boxing record by any Irish boxer as she claimed her 17th Irish boxing title at the National Elite Championships.
IABA have sent a ten-strong squad over to the U22 Boxing European Championships in Russia, made up of five males and five females.
Niamh Earley was one of the other three boxers whom were fighting for at least a bronze medal. The 21-year old boxing prodigy who boxes for Ryston Boxing Club in Newbridge, was defeated in her bronze medal bout. Earley faced Italy’s Giovanna Marchese, who claimed silver at the Italian 2018 Championships.
The Muirhevnamor flyweight started boxing at the age of 10 and won a silver medal at the Junior Women’s Championship in 2015.
Irish female captain Aoife O’Rourke, met Russia’s current Olympic Youth, World and European Youth champion, Anastasiya Shamonova in the last eight. O’Rourke was a silver medallist at last year’s tournament and claimed the National Irish middleweight title in February.
Won my fight against Turkey in the last 16 ? I box Hungary next for a medal ?? good to get the cobwebs off, only better to come ? the Turks must hate me ? pic.twitter.com/hRlTDiDgLC
— Baby Canelo?? (@amybroadhurst12) March 8, 2019
O’Rourke was defeated by a unanimous decision with the judge’s scores reading 28-29, 27-30, 28-29, 27-30 and 28-29 all in favour of the Russian.
It was never going to be easy facing Shamonova in her own backyard and O’Rourke knew she would need a convincing performance to sway the judges to go against the home favourite. In truth however, O’Rourke can feel aggrieved with the magnitude of the victory adjudicated to the Russian.
There wasn’t anything to split between the two fighters with both trying to land heavy shots but not connecting cleanly. The Irish captain looked to be the fitter of the two, relentlessly pressing forward trying to get in on the inside. The Russian was off her feet towards the end of the fight, constantly grabbing O’Rourke to prevent any late shots getting through her guard.
Amy Broadhurst remains as the final female boxer left for Ireland in the tournament as she boxes for silver against France’s Fatia Benmassahel on Friday.
