Donegal boxers set for Stateside showdown with Team Ireland in Florida

Two Donegal boxers are included on an Irish squad that will travel to the United States for an international tournament later this month.

Carys McFadden from Dunfanaghy Boxing Club and Dungloe Boxing Club’s Alesha Mullis Boyle have been confirmed in the 25-strong Irish squad for the World of Havoc Tournament, which takes place from July 27-August 4.

The tournament in Orlando, Florida represents the first time Team Ireland will field a national team in the US in some years.

Sanctioned by USA Boxing, a founder member of World Boxing, World of Havoc is a Tier 1 event.

Contesting this tournament was made possible by IABA clubs’ decision in April to also affiliate to World Boxing, on a dual member basis. 

World Boxing, which will run boxing at the LA28 Olympic Games, affirmed IABA as a member in May.

The Irish team includes boxers from 10 counties, including the Donegal duo and the Head of Delegation is IABA President Anto Donnelly, while the team will be led by Team Managers Stephen Connolly and Anna Moore.

Mullis Boyle won her second Irish title in May when defeating Ella Leonard in the National Senior Cadet 66kgs final on a unanimous decision.

Earlier in the year, the Dungloe BC ace overcame Leonard in the Junior 1 66kgs final.

McFadden nabbed the Senior Cadet 46kgs crown via a walkover having created a neat nugget of history in March.

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Then, she won the Junior 1 46kgs title to become Dunfanaghy BC’s first ever female Irish champ. McFadden stopped Olivia Wardzinska from St Brigid’s, Edenderry in the second round of their final.

The coaches for the Irish team for the transatlantic voyage are Liam Cunningham (Saints ABC, Antrim), Valerie Hamilton (St. Francis, Limerick), Paul Simpson (Saviours Crystal, Waterford) and Gus Farrell (Monivea BC, Galway).