Roscommon’s Aoife O’Rourke has won gold in the women’s 75kg division at the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool by unanimous decision.
The 28-year-old was dominant in victory over Turkey’s Busra Isildar, winning every round on three of the judges’ scorecards and sealing a 5-0 win overall.
The result confirmed Ireland’s third and final medal of the World Boxing Championships, with Patsy Joyce (55kg) and Grainne Walsh (65kg) also picking up bronze medals.
O’Rourke had twice previously defeated her Turkish opponent in European tournaments, but Isildar entered the contest with confidence after a win over Emma Sue Greentree of Australia in a thrilling semi-final.
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Ireland’s co-captain started the fight at her customary high pace, and although Isildar showed good hand speed O’Rourke employed feints to create gaps to land her straight right hand.
The Turkish fighter was on the back foot throughout round one, with O’Rourke landing lead hooks and right crosses that rocked back Isildar’s head, and four of the judges agreed that the Irish fighter had won the round.
The second began more positively for the fighter in red, with O’Rourke taking some blows as she closed the distance.
But fitness again proved to be a major advantage for O’Rourke, who did not let up as the round progressed, pushing her opponent back to the ropes continuously with a stabbing jab and then following up with combinations..
Before the final round, O’Rourke was ahead by two on three scorecards, while the fight was scored level by the other two officials.
The pattern of the fight continued in the third, with O’Rourke continuing to push the action. And the Castlerea native appeared to be just as energetic in the final round as in the opener, despite the high tempo.
O’Rourke was stoic at the final bell, but held both arms aloft in victory as she was announced as the new 75kg World champion by unanimous decision.
“Incredible. It hasn’t even sunk in yet,” said O’Rourke after the victory.
“Just the whole buzz and the atmosphere here, I’m overwhelmed with excitement, it’s an amazing feeling and long may it last.”
The world title marks the highest point of her amateur career so far, which already includes two Olympic Games, four European golds and a world silver medal.
It will be the second World Championships gold medal in the family after her sister Lisa won the light-middleweight title in 2022. This time around the 23-year-old narrowly lost out to top-seed Lekeisha Pergoliti of Australia in their 70kg quarter-final last Tuesday.
Ireland’s 14-strong squad will arrive back in Dublin on Monday evening, returning the country’s best World Championships medal haul in the last decade.
