Mullingar Teenager Overcomes Political Wrangling To Win World Championship Medal

Photo Credit: Facebook/Olympic Boxing Club Mullingar

The Westmeath teenager was only able to fight his Russian opponent after much political wrangling.

Mullingar’s John Donoghue has secured at least a bronze at the World Junior Boxing Championships in Yerevan. 

The Olympic Boxing Club man stopped Russia’s Zakhar Bespalov in the first round to advance to the lightweight semi-finals. 

Donoghue’s victory followed an IABA statement which criticised the Department of Sport for a lack of communication.

That fight only took place after the IABA waived a boycott of competing against Russian or Belarussian boxers. 

Kerry’s Mary McDonagh also guaranteed at least a bronze courtesy of a light-middleweight quarter-final win over Akbota Essimekova of Kazakhstan. 

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