Irish Boxers Win Three Medals at World Championships

Aoife O'Rourke from Ireland won gold in the 75kg category at the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool by defeating Turkey's Busra Isildar with a unanimous decision in the final. This victory marks a significant achievement as O'Rourke became one of the few boxers to win both World gold and silver medals in the same year, having claimed silver at the IBA Women's Worlds in March. Her path to the final included wins over notable opponents such as China's 2023 World Champion Chengyu Wang, Norway’s Sunniva Hofstad, and the Czech Republic’s Monika Langerova. O'Rourke and her sister Lisa, the 2022 World champion, join a select group of sibling World champions, both representing Castlerea BC. Additionally, Ireland secured two bronze medals through Patsy Joyce, who fought a narrow semi-final loss against Spain's Rafael Serrano Lozano, and Grainne Walsh, who also earned bronze after defeating an Olympic silver medalist. The strong showing is Ireland's best haul at the World Boxing Championships since 2015, highlighting the country's growing prominence in the sport.