Mullingar teenager to box for bronze medal and World Junior Championships

Following frantic negotiations, Mullingar's John Donoghue will fight for a medal at the World Junior Championships in Armenia tomorrow.

After winning two fights in Armenia, the 15-year-old is set to face Russian Zakhar Bespalov in the light-welterweight quarter-finals, but until today the IABA's policy was that their boxers must sign a declaration to withdraw if pitted against Russian or Belarusian opponents.

However, President of the Irish Athletic Boxing Association Gerry O'Mahony confirmed this afternoon that the association plans to end its boycott of Russian boxers and allow Mullingar youngster John Donoghue to fight for a medal at the Junior World Championships on Thursday.

The decision has been welcomed by Johnny Joyce, Olympic Boxing Club Mullingar, who stressed his young boxer is only interested in competing in sport.

"It's a huge relief and John is delighted with today's decision. I spoke to him this afternoon and he is now in great spirits: yesterday he was very down in the dumps because we thought he would have to give a walkover in the quarter-final, so we're delighted with today's decision," he said.

Mr Joyce confirmed that he received great support from Minister Peter Burke and Sorcha Clarke, TD in relation to lobbying the minister in charge to get the decision reversed. Chris Andrews, TD was also a great help in this regard and he raised the issue an at Oireachtas Committee on Tuesday.

Thomas Byrne TD, Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media said there would be no consequences for boxers who faced Russian fighters.

"The IABA are an autonomous organisation. We don’t tell them what to do," he said.

President of the Irish Athletic Boxing Association Gerry O'Mahony confirmed today that the association will end the boycott.

Mr Joyce said a number of young boxers from the club have missed out on opportunities to compete for medals at the recent championships because of the boycott, introduced because of the war in Ukraine.

"We are not concerned with politics. This is our sport and we just want to get on with the business inside the ring," he added.