Two Offaly boxers in national elite finals in Belfast tonight

Offaly boxers Gráinne Walsh and Brian Kennedy will be in action in the finals of the IABA's National Elite competition in Belfast tonight (Thursday).

Tullamore's Walsh, who competed in last year's Olympics in Paris at 66kg, will be boxing in the final of the 65kg division, a new weight category initiated by the World Boxing governing body which will oversee the sport's participation in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Walsh was given a walkover at the semi final stage and will face Kaci Rock, who is boxing out of the Holy Trinity club in Antrim, in tonight's final. Rock defeated Cork's Linda Desmond by unanimous decision in their semi final bout last night.

The pair met previously at the semi final stage of the November 2023 National Elite finals, a contest which Walsh won.

Daingean's Brian Kennedy, who represents the St Brigid's club in Edenderry, also received a walkover at the semi final stage, and will face Jason Clancy, of the Sean McDermott club in Leitrim in tonight's 85kg final.

The IABA said the results of tonight's finals "will be a factor in selecting the Team Ireland team to contest the World Boxing World Championships in Liverpool, from September 4 to 14".

A total of 17 finals are scheduled in the competition tonight, which is being held at Girdwood Community Hub in Belfast.

The boxing starts at 6pm. Gráinne Walsh's contest against Kaci Rock is the ninth bout of the night, while Brian Kennedy against Jason Clancy is the fifteenth contest on the schedule.

Unfortunately there is no television coverage or official streaming coverage of tonight's bouts, but the IABA said they would be shown via a livestream on the Belfast Boxers Facebook page.