Derry boxer becomes the Irish 48kg U22 Champion

A Derry boxer recently became the Irish 48kg U22 Champion. 

Carleigh Irving from Oakleaf Boxing Club won the title on a split decision against Satanta BC’s Georgia McGovern.

And Eugene O’Kane could not be proud of his club’s boxer. 

He said: “It was a tough fight. 

“She was probably not fully fit; she had problems with her arm and a tear in her muscle, and she was unable to train coming into it. We were going to pull her out, but we took a gamble because we thought we would see how she did, and it paid off.

“She is the first Derry girl to win that kind of title. She is actually on a wee winning streak as she won the U-18’s, the National U-18’s too, and then she won the Ulster Elite 48 kg too.

It was a great win last weekend, and she is probably in line now to go to the European Championships.

“The quality and talent have always been there. And she is progressing brilliantly, and she is looking to go to the Commonwealth Games next year; the world is her oyster.”

“The sky's the limit for her at that weight.”

Oakleaf boxing has been experiencing some success in the past year, as Shaniece Robinson was crowned Girl 1 Irish Champion at Easter. 

And Mr. O’Kane could not be more thrilled, as the hard work and graft of his trainers and boxers are paying off with incredible success and the growth of the club.

He said: “The wee club is going great; there is a fantastic buzz about the club now. 

“There is a great buzz around the club; we did a wee project for women’s boxing, and it was great to see so many talented young girls who are interested in the sport.”

Irving is just one of the growing pools of incredible female boxers coming from Ireland. 

Team Ireland has a record number of boxers at the Paris Olympics, with 10, six of whom are female.

Mr. O’Kane said: “I suppose it is the fighting Irish.

“Ireland is probably one of the strongest nations for female boxing. You’ve got Katie Taylor as the precursor, obviously starting the whole thing off, then you have Kellie Harrington, and now you have Aoife O'Rourke. They are all world champions or Olympic champions. I can’t tell you what's in our water. 

“But the women are taking over and outpunching the men.”