The Irish Athletic Third-level Boxing Association (IATBA) are proud to announce the team of 5 student boxers which will represent Ireland at the 7th FISU World University Boxing Championships in Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand from October 03 – 09.
The team includes Céire Smith (51Kg, Cavan), Christina Desmond (75Kg, Fr. Horgans), Gary McKenna (60Kg, Old School), Conor Wallace (75Kg, St. Monica’s) and Kenneth Okungbowa (91Kg, Athlone).
This is the first time an Irish Team will enter the World University Championships under the aegis of the IATBA, since the association was founded in 2010. The only previous Irish representation was at the first edition of the Championships in Antalya, Turkey in 2004, where the Ireland boxers were Eamon O’Kane and Cathal McMonagle.
The team will be supported by Coach Paddy Gallagher and Team Manager Paul Geoghegan, and will depart for Thailand’s second city on Friday September 30. The Championships glove off on Monday October 3rd.
Boxers
Céire Smith
Céire Smith
Club: Cavan
College / University: Dublin City University
Achievements: Multiple Irish titles, IATBA title. Represented Ireland at 3 World & 2 European Elite Championships.
Christina Desmond
Christina Desmond
Club: Fr. Horgan’s, Cork
College / University: Limerick Institute of Technology
Achievements: Multiple Irish titles, IATBA title. World youth silver medal, European youth bronze medal and competed in the Youth Olympic Games in 2014 (4th Position).
Gary McKenna
Gary McKenna, 2016 Haringey Box Cup silver medalist
Club: Old School, Monaghan
College / University: University of Ulster, Jordanstown (graduate of Monaghan Institute)
Achievements: Multiple Irish titles, IATBA title. Represented Ireland at 2014 European Union Championships.
Gary represented the IATBA at the 2016 Haringey Box Cup, coming away with a hard earned silver medal, losing out to eventual Haringey Best Boxer 2016, Gary Cully (St. David’s, Naas).
Conor Wallace
Conor Wallace, with Coach Owen Murphy, after retaining his IATBA 75Kg championship in 2016
Club: St. Monica’s, Newry
College / University: University of Ulster, Jordanstown (graduate of Southern Regional College, Newry)
Achievements: Multiple Irish titles, 2 IATBA titles. Won Irish Intermediate title and Elite finalist in 2015/16.
Conor represented the IATBA at the 2016 Haringey Box Cup, winning a silver medal.
Kenneth Okungbowa
Kenneth Okungbowa, with Coach Rory Parkes, after winning the 2016 Haringey Box Cup 91KG Gold Medal.
Club: Athlone
College / University: Athlone Institute of Technology
Achievements: IATBA title. Won Irish Intermediate title and twice Irish Elite finalist.
Kenneth represented the IATBA at the 2016 Haringey Box Cup, winning a Gold Medal, and recently won the heavyweight title at the 2016 Celtic Box Cup in Dungarvan, Waterford, for his club Athlone BC.
Team Coach: Paddy Gallagher (IATBA)
College / University: Maynooth University alumnus
Team Manager: Paul Geoghegan (IATBA)
College / University: NUI Galway alumnus
Irish Athletic Third-level Boxing Association 