Portarlington's Rachel Lawless, who lost on points decision at the last 16 stage of the U23 European Boxing Championships in Hungary today (Monday).

Defeat for Offaly's Rachel at European U23 championships

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Rachel Lawless of St Brigid's Boxing Club in Edenderry exited the European U23 Boxing championships this afternoon (Monday).

The Portarlington boxer and Defence Forces member faced Spain’s Salmeron Gutierrez in her opening bout at the 51kg last 16 stage of the tournament in Budapest.

The IABA praised the local boxer's "valiant performance" in the contest - but the points decision went Gutierrez's way.

Ahead of the tournament, the Defence Forces boxing team said Rachel had shown "tremendous resilience" in the way she returned from injury over the past year.

"The Defence Forces Boxing Management would like to acknowledge the exceptional coaching and support she has received from the High Performance Coaches, while Liam Morley Brereton has been ever-present guiding Rachel over the past 12 months," the Defence Forces Boxing Team said.

A 16-strong Team Ireland is competing at the championships in Hungary, which got underway yesterday (Sunday).

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