(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Team Ireland Shines at World of Havoc Tournament with 17 Medals, Including 14 Gold
Team Ireland has made an impressive mark at the World of Havoc Tournament in Orlando, Florida, returning home with a remarkable 17 medals—14 gold and 3 silver. The event, sanctioned by USA Boxing, is a top-tier international competition and a major step forward for Irish boxing on the global stage.
This achievement was made possible following the decision by IABA clubs in April to become dual members of World Boxing, the new international federation that will oversee boxing at the LA28 Olympic Games. In May, World Boxing officially welcomed IABA as a full member.
A Golden Start and Unforgettable Performances
The medal streak began with 63kg Claire Crowley from St. Martha’s Boxing Club, Cork, who set the tone with a strong 4-1 win over Summer Jackson from Florida. From there, Team Ireland’s boxers dominated the rings with resilience and skill.
Notable performances include:
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46kg Carys Mc Fadden (Dunfanaghy BC, Donegal): Earned silver after a hard-fought final.
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48kg Abby Murray (Muskerry BC, Cork): Won gold via RSC2 against Hailie Waybright.
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46kg Martin Nevin (Mullingar Shuffler BC, Westmeath): Claimed gold with a 5-0 decision.
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50kg Sean Kelly (St. Abban’s Kilmyshall ABC, Wexford): Defeated Kareem Jackson for the title.
More Champions Across All Weights
The victories continued across multiple divisions:
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54kg Conan Mc Sorley (Two Castles Olympic BC, Tyrone): Won his fourth bout and took gold.
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57kg Kalib Walshe (Wexford CBS BC): Secured a dominant win over Dmitrii Vokuev.
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60kg Jason Donohue (Olympic BC Mullingar, Westmeath): Co-Captain triumphed with a 5-0 finals victory.
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57kg Vanessa Doyle (Templemore ABC, Tipperary): Earned a decisive 5-0 win.
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66kg Alesha Mullis Boyle (Dungloe ABC, Donegal): Won over Summer Jackson with confidence.
Other gold medalists included:
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66kg Darren O’Toole (Jobstown BC, Dublin)
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63kg Lorcan Holohan (Portlaoise BC, Laois)
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80kg Senan Kennedy (Cabra BC, Dublin)
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80+kg William Heaphy (Golden Gloves BC, Cork)
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70kg Martin Sweeney (Galway BC)
Silver Medals and Strong Efforts
Three boxers claimed silver:
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46kg Carys Mc Fadden (Donegal)
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48kg Emmet Shields (Glasnevin BC, Dublin)
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52kg Lee Largey Snodden (Immaculata ABC, Antrim)
Despite not clinching gold, their performances were full of heart and determination.
Team Composition and Support Staff
Team Ireland featured 2025 National Senior Cadet Champions from 10 counties, representing 25 of 34 contested weight classes. Counties represented include: Antrim, Cork, Dublin, Donegal, Galway, Laois, Tipperary, Tyrone, Westmeath, and Wexford.
Leadership and coaching staff:
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Head of Delegation: Anto Donnelly (IABA President)
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Team Managers: Stephen Connolly (National Registrar), Anna Moore (Central Council)
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Coaches: Liam Cunningham (Saints ABC, Antrim), Valerie Hamilton (St. Francis, Limerick), Paul Simpson (Saviours Crystal, Waterford), Gus Farrell (Monivea BC, Galway)
Full List of Boxers Representing Team Ireland
Female Boxers:
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Carys Mc Fadden – 46kg
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Abby Murray – 48kg
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Alannah Murphy – 50kg
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Aleigha Murphy – 52kg
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Ella Archbold – 54kg
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Vanessa Doyle – 57kg
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Ruth Dossen – 60kg
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Claire Crowley – 63kg
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Alesha Mullis Boyle – 66kg
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Cassie Henderson – 70kg
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Isabelle Hawkins – 75kg
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Carly Norris – 80kg
Male Boxers:
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Martin Nevin – 46kg
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Emmet Shields – 48kg
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Sean Kelly – 50kg
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Lee Largey Snodden – 52kg
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Conan Mc Sorley – 54kg
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Kalib Walshe – 57kg
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Jason Donohue – 60kg
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Lorcan Holohan – 63kg
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Darren O’Toole – 66kg
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Martin Sweeney – 70kg
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John Ward – 75kg
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Senan Kennedy – 80kg
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William Heaphy – 80+kg
Ireland’s Future in Boxing Looks Bright
With this remarkable success in a top-tier international event, Team Ireland’s young boxing talents have proven they are a force to be reckoned with. The results from the World of Havoc Tournament mark a new high for Irish boxing and serve as a promising sign ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Congratulations to all the athletes, coaches, and support staff for making Ireland proud on the international stage!
