Aoife O’Rourke has claimed gold at the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, propelling Team Ireland into joint fifth in the global medals table.

For the Castlerea fighter, already a double Olympian and four-time continental champion, the victory is her second world medal of the year and adds to the growing legacy of the O’Rourke family, with her sister Lisa having taken world gold in 2022.

“World Gold – what a title to add to Aoife’s lengthy catalogue of achievements,” said High Performance Director Jon Mackey.

“She’s had four massive battles and shown her mettle, technical skill and physicality in each of them. She’s done herself, Team Ireland, and her family proud. To win it in Liverpool, with her family and friends there, made it all the more special.”

The headlines will rightly belong to O’Rourke, but her success was part of a wider Irish story in Liverpool.

Bronze medals for Offaly’s Grainne Walsh and 19-year-old Westmeath boxer Patsy Joyce ensured Team Ireland equalled its best medal haul at a World Championships in a decade.

Walsh, whose calm authority in and out of the ring has marked her as a leader within the team, described the tournament as her statement on the global stage. Joyce, contesting his first senior elite championships, announced himself as a generational prospect and the first Irish male medallist since his cousin Joe Ward in 2017.

Joint fifth, alongside Cuba and ahead of the United States, Ukraine and Azerbaijan, in a tournament of 66 federations and 540 boxers, is a position that sends a clear signal on the health of Olympic Boxing in Ireland.

“We’ve laid down a marker among the traditionally dominant nations, but we can surpass that. It’s been ten years since we brought home three medals from the World. This is where we need to be.”

The championships also highlighted areas where Ireland must double down. Mackey admitted that 2025 was unusual, with a low level of competitive action owing in part to the switch to World Boxing membership earlier this year.

The 2026 calendar will now become crucial, with World Boxing Cups offering the kind of regular, high-level exposure that builds champions.

IABA President Anto Donnelly and new CEO Gary Stewart were present over the weekend to witness the success and are firmly committed to creating the proper levels of opportunity in 2026 and beyond.

Dr Una May and Paul McDermott of Sport Ireland were also present during the Championships, an indication of the continued importance that Boxing holds within high-performance Irish sport. This position looked in doubt only months ago before the International Olympic Committee confirmed Boxing’s continued place at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.

Three medals. Joint fifth in the world. A nation reminded of its place at the top table of international sport. Not a bad week’s work for Boxing.

Image Credit IABA Social Media

 

Further Reading for Sport for Business members:

Check out more of our Sport for Business coverage of Boxing

 

SPORT FOR BUSINESS AUTUMN EVENTS

 

 

On September 25th we will host our Annual Children in Sport Conference,

 

 

On October 14th, our Annual Sport for Social Good Event will shine a spotlight on good work being done through the medium of sport across the country.

Then in November a new event focused on Sustainability in Sport and in December our 12th Annual Women in Sport Conference, in partnership with Lidl.

Find out More about Our Sport for Business Events Programme Here

BOOK YOUR EARLY BIRD TICKETS FOR THESE EVENTS HERE

 

The Latest Sport for Business Podcasts

 

MEMBERSHIP AND EVENTS

The IABA, as well as all the leading sporting and business organisations in and around the world of sport are among the 300+ members of the Sport for Business community.  

This includes all of the leading sports and sponsors, as well as commercial and state agencies, individuals interested in our world, and an increasing number from beyond these shores taking a keen interest in Ireland.  

Find out more about becoming a member today.

Or sign up for our twice-daily bulletins to get a flavour of the material we cover.

Sign up for our News Bulletins here.