The EUBC European Women’s Elite Championships got underway in Sofia, Bulgaria on Monday, 4th June. Over 140 boxers, representing 33 nations have registered to compete. Ireland are represented by three boxers at these Championships; Michaela Walsh, Kelly Harrington and Grainne Walsh.
Returning to competition for the first time since her controversial defeat to Skye Nicolson, Michaela got off to a flying start on Tuesday night. The two time Commonwealth Games silver medalist defeated Karriss Artingstall of England in her opener with a 5-0 unanimous decision. Michaela, competing in the 57kg category, demonstrated a sharpness and made light work of her English competition.
Following her victory on Tuesday night, Michaela won her second fight in just under 24 hours when she sensationally defeated the Italian number one seed and the current EU Featherwieght Champion, Alessia Mesiano. The Belfast-born fighter booked her place in the quarter-finals against Belarussian, Helina Bruyevich, with some top class boxing so far in the competition. Michaela showed incredible tact and boxing intelligence to defeat Mesiano on points and guarantee her qualification for next year’s 2019 European Games – a separate competition to the European Elite Women’s Championships.
Michaelas Irish team-mates, Kellie Harrington and Gráinne Walsh, are in action tomorrow, kicking off their Championship campaigns. Kellie Harrington who holds a light-welterweight World Championship silver medal, meets Katerina Humlova of Czech Republic, in this years lightweight category.
Meanwhile Grainne Walsh, Ireland’s 69kg champion, meets Russian Iaroslava Iakushina in her first fight. Iakushina is a former AIBA World youth champion.
The date for Michaela Walsh’s quarter-final is still to be confirmed but you can watch all the action and tomorrows fights on the EUBC’s YouTube Channel here!
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