Three Team NI boxers have won through to Saturday’s Commonwealth Games finals.
Kaci Rock, Jon McConnell and Michaela Walsh all swapped bronze for silver at least.
Rock has up-graded her CWG medal from bronze. She was the 3-2 winner over Caitlin Rainey of Scotland in a tight, competitive semi final.
Speaking after her bout she said: “Down in the first round, and 3-2 in the second – I knew I needed them judges so I dug deep.”
She boxes for gold at 11:30am on Saturday morning against England’s Sasha Hickey.
Michaela Walsh also up-graded her Glasgow medal. The defending featherweight champion was dominant throughout her 5-0 win over Fiji’s Jasmine Daunakamakama to step up the podium. Judge scored the bout
Speaking on getting out of the ring, the four time medal winner said “Amazing. I remember getting to the final in Glasgow 2014 against Nicola Adams. The atmosphere and the people were amazing. It was a great fight today. I was nervous, I was – I’m nervous every fight. I felt it a bit more today, I don’t know why. I’m just happy I got in there and stuck to the game plan.”
Jon McConnell is assured of at least a 70kg silver medal, following a masterclass performance in his semi final against Scotland’s Sonny Kerr where he got the UD win on a scoreline of 27:30; 27:20; 28:29; 27:30; 27:30.
The Belfast boxer says: “It was a lot more straightforward that last time, with the point off. I boxed well; didn’t really get out of first gear to be honest with you. I know I had the first two rounds won. He’s a quality lad. A big push tomorrow and go from there”. Jon, of Holy Trinity BC Belfast, is back in action on Saturday, contesting his final against Wales Orlando Holley-Sotomi
Jude Gallagher will come home from Glasgow with bronze, on the narrowest of margins. He boxed a high tempo, highly physical semi final against Tryagain Morning Ndevelo of Namibia
The Two Castle left it all in the ring with high intensity 1st and 2nd rounds, and a powerhouse 3rd, and a powerhouse third round. Judges awarded the 3-2 decision to Ndevelo, scored: 28:29; 28:29; 30: 26; 30:27; 28:29, reflecting a 10-8 third round score from the Slovakian judge.
Heavyweight Garyn McAllister will return with a bronze medal. He contested a tough, physical semi final against Connor Williams of Wales – the UD went to the Welsh athlete on a scoreline of 29:28; 29:27; 30:27; 30:27; 29:28. Garyn has had a superb Commonwealth Games journey and can rightly be proud.
Superheavy, Willie John McCartan, will also come home with bronze. He was due to contest his semi-final this evening against England’s Damar Thomas, but was withdrawn this morning through injury.
