Success keeps coming.
Irish amateur boxers have excelled both at home and abroad this year, with two elite championships, successes in Strandja and Ústí nad Labem and some big wins at the European Games.
Perhaps the most debated list, we have selected the SIX best amateur achievers for you to choose from.
In terms of honorable mentions, there was plenty of recognition for the likes of double Elite Champion Daina Moorehouse and the incredible comeback of Dean Walsh, as well as the meteoric rise of Martin McDonagh.
Other categories:Young Fan of the YearFight of the YearNational Fight of the YearPerformance of the YearKnockout of the YearProfessional Debut of the YearTrainer of the Year
Votes are limited to ONE per IP address.
Kelyn Cassidy (Salvators Crystal Waterford)What a year for the Waterford light heavyweight, who won the 2023 Elite, bronze in Strandja, narrowly missed out on the Olympics after giving the fearsome Oleksandr Khyzniak a huge scare, and then recovered to beat Gabriel Dossen in their huge showdown at Elites 2024, choosing the Best Boxer in the process.
Dean Clancy (Leitrim by Sean McDermott)The light welter from Sligo made the Irish No. 1 ranking his own, claiming gold in Ústí nad Labem, bronze at the European Games and Olympic qualification in the process.
Kellie Harrington (St Mary’s Dublin)The Olympic champion admitted that it was a difficult year outside the ring, but inside the ropes everything went as usual. Harrington claimed two Elite titles (including a record 11th), gold in Strandja, gold in Usti nad Labem and gold at the European Games. Can anyone stop her in Paris?
Jack Marley (Monkstown Dublin)The young Dublin heavyweight, in addition to two Elite titles, broke a long-standing streak by winning silver at the European Games in Poland. In doing so, Marley became the first Irish heavyweight to win a major medal since Gearoid O Colmain SIXTY-SIX years ago.
Aoife O’Rourke (Olympic Galway)The middleweight from Roscommon won her third consecutive European title (only Katie Taylor with six in a row has won more). If we add to that two more Elite titles and gold in Usti nad Labem, we represent an impeccable and undefeated year.
Michaela Walsh (Holy Family Belfast)The Belfast medal machine claimed a bronze at the European Games to qualify for her second Olympic Games, as well as a gold in Ústí nad Labem, two Elite titles to also reach a record 11, and became the first Irish female boxer to appearing on an IBA Night of Champions (losing a questionable split decision).
QuizWiz
Voting will remain open until Saturday, January 6 and the results will be announced on Sunday, January 7.
Good luck to all the nominees!
