BOXERS from Ennis and Gort have won medals at the World Youth Boxing Championships in Spain this week.
Gort boxer Cliona D’Arcy defeated her Polish opponent in the semi finals of the 81kg+ category on Wednesday evening, advancing to the gold medal bout on Saturday
Earlier this year she was the winner of a gold medal at the European Youth Championships.
On Wednesday afternoon Ennis boxer Jim Donovan came up just short in his semi final, losing out on a 3-2 split decision to his Kazakh opponent.
Donovan was clearly devastated as the result was announced, as he fell to his knees in the ring and punched the canvas.
Speaking to the Clare Champion afterwards Martin Donovan, Jim’s uncle and trainer, said that while he had come up short, the Ennis fighter has achieved a lot in recent days. “I’m a bit disappointed today but it’s great that he’s coming home with a world medal.”
He felt that Jim had been somewhat unlucky on the day. “He started slowly but he picked it up in the second and third rounds. His opponent kept dropping the shoulder, the referee could have taken a point away. Jim’s left hand was going over the top all the time, because your man was bringing his head down near Jim’s waistband. He got away with it through the whole fight.
“He was a bit unlucky, but it’s great to go out there and come home with a world medal. He had a European medal, now he has a world medal and he’s a nine time national champion. He has a big future,he’s only turned 18.”
Martin said that Jim is on the radar of some of the world’s top promoters, but at such a young age there is a good chance that he will stay amateur for the moment and try to make the Irish team for the 2024 Olympics.
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked with a number of other publications in Limerick, Cork and Galway. His first book will be published in December 2024.