2026 is turning out to be a year to remember for amateur boxing in Ireland. Pa Casey retained his European Under-15 title, John Donoghue completed a World and European Under-19 double, and Jon McConnell topped the podium at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow before adding European bronze. At the same Europeans, sisters Aoife and Lisa O’Rourke proved unbeatable. These are just some of the highlights, with countless more besides, and it may be the start of another golden generation in Irish amateur boxing.
Next up for the elite squad is the 46th Tammer Tournament in Tampere, Finland, with boxing at the Pyynikki Sports Hall on October 30th to November 1st. Ireland’s squad will compete against over 100 elite boxers from 12 federations, including hosts Finland, England, Scotland, Brazil, Australia, India, France, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia.
With qualification for LA 2028 beginning in next year, the tournament is an ideal place to end the year on a high and find form ahead of the elites in January.
So, who are the 12 fighters heading to Finland?
Women’s Squad
51kg – Caitlin Fryers
Fryers reached the quarter final stage in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games during the summer, and although she will be disappointed not to medal, she can take consolation from boxing well against the eventual gold medallist from India. The 2022 European silver medallist has shown that when she is in form she can compete with the best. The Tammer Tournament is the ideal opportunity for Fryers to end the year on a high and get ready for Elites in January
57kg – Niamh Fay
The 2024 European Championships bronze medallist down at 54kg, Fay is looking to make her mark at the new weight. 2026 has been a successful year for the Ballyboughal star, she won the Four Nations and has picked up several wins in the Irish vest in Poland and Bulgaria. Fay will be hoping for more of the same in Finland and will then have her sights set on unseating Michaela Walsh as Ireland’s number one in January.
60kg – Kellie Harrington
Kellie Harrington is back and needs no introduction.
The double Olympic champion was due to compete in Septembers European Championships but a hand injury scuppered her plans. This trip to Finland will be ideal for Harrington to get rid of any cobwebs as she looks to build back to the form that saw her as the world’s number one.
65kg – Linda Desmond
The Rylan BC Cork star, Linda Desmond, is coming into the Tammer Tournament as the 2026 Four Nations champion. She will be looking to continue that form in Finland. Back in January she lost in the Irish final to Grainne Walsh, so the target will be to use this week as a means to find her best form and then focus on the elites in January.
70kg – Evelyn Igharo
Evelyn Igharo was another of Septembers squad to reach the quarter final stage in the Europeans.
where she lost to top class Chantelle Reid of England by decision. But that experience will prove invaluable as she looks to progress in her career. The Clann Naofa BC star is getting better with each competition and will be looking to prove it in Tampere.
Men’s Squad
55kg – Louis Rooney
Louis Rooney headed into the Commonwealth Games one of the favourites for gold but his journey ended in one of the shocks of the games when he was stopped by a fighter from Lesotho, with a shot from the gods. The Star BC is one of the most talented fighters in the country and will be looking to put Glasgow’s nightmare behind him in Finland.
60kg – Adam Hession
The Monivea BC lightweight, Adam Hession, will be heading to Finland looking to make a statement. At the beginning of year he lost a close fight in the Irish final to Jude Gallagher, and has had to sit and watch the Ulster man go on to medal in the Commonwealths and perform very well in the Europeans that cemented him as the number one in the country. A good performance from Hession in Tampere will show the Irish selectors that he shouldn’t be written off when the Olympic qualifiers come around next year
70kg – Terry McEntee
Watching Jon McConnell achieve Commonwealth and European medals this year should give McEntee all the confidence he needs heading into the Tammer Tournament. The DCU BC light middleweight pushed McConnell to a majority decision in the Irish final back in January. McEntee will be looking to show that same type of form in Finland and then look to go one better in the 2027 elites.
75kg – Gavin Rafferty
Gavin Rafferty may have lost his first fight in the recent European Championships, but the experience of an elite competition and of the training camps beforehand will have brought him to a new level. The Dublin Docklands man will be looking to end the year on a high over in Finland and will be expecting to bag a few wins at least.
80kg – JamEs whelan
The second Dublin Docklands BC fighter in the squad, James Whelan, just might one of the most exciting fighters in the country. The 23 year old puncher will be looking to hit top form in Finland and show the Irish selectors that he is more than ready to compete with the best in the world.
90kg – Jack Marley
At 90kg, Ireland has one of the best fighters in the world in Jack Marley of Monkstown BC. The Paris Olympian will be looking at the Tammer Tournament as the perfect platform for him to start finding the form that seen him ranked at number 12 in the world. He is more than capable of making a statement in Finland.
90+kg Gus Idemudia
The big man of the squad, Gus Idemudia of Mount Tallant BC, has gone viral recently with some devastating knockouts. He will be looking to showcase his talent and power in the Tammer Tournament and another viral KO isn’t off the menu as when the super heavyweights and throwing punches anything can happen.
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