Eleven boxers have been selected to represent Team Ireland at the opening stage of the World Boxing Cup series, which will take place in Brazil from April 20th to 27th.
The tournament marks the first of three events in the 2026 World Boxing Cup calendar, offering elite male and female athletes the opportunity to earn valuable ranking points across the year.
Ireland’s squad blends Olympic experience with emerging talent, featuring six Olympians in Daina Moorehouse, Jenny Lehane, Michaela Walsh, Jude Gallagher, Dean Clancy and Jack Marley. They are joined by 2025 World bronze medallist Patsy Joyce and multiple European U23 medallist Louis Rooney, underlining the depth of talent within the current high-performance system.
The selected athletes represent clubs across the island, with three each from Belfast and Dublin, and further representation from Leitrim, Louth, Tyrone, Westmeath and Wicklow.
In preparation for the competition, the team will undertake a 12-day training camp in Brazil alongside athletes from a dozen other countries, before travelling to Foz do Iguaçu on April 5th.
Interim High Performance Head Coach Damian Kennedy highlighted the quality of preparation undertaken by the squad.
“Preparation across the squad has been disciplined and focused, with a strong emphasis on consistency, standards, and attention to detail in every session,” he said. “This competition in Brazil offers a valuable benchmark for where we are, both individually and as a team, against high-quality international opposition.”
“We expect boxers to perform with confidence, express themselves, and demonstrate the work that’s been done in training. It’s an important step in our progression, and one that will help build momentum as we target success at benchmark championships in China and Bulgaria later this year.”
High Performance Director Jon Mackey emphasised the role of integrated support services in preparing the team.
“The team going to Brazil has been supported by a comprehensive sports science and medicine programme throughout their preparation,” he said. “From strength and conditioning to recovery, nutrition, and medical oversight, every element has been aligned to give the boxers the best possible platform to perform.”
“Boxing technical preparation, under Damian’s leadership, has been excellent and innovative. The support staff team travelling to Brazil is highly experienced and that expertise will be vital in delivering on that preparation in a competitive environment.”
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