Ireland will be hoping to get off the mark today at the IBA Women's World Championships after a disappointing start in Serbia.
Olympian Gráinne Walsh has a 66kg last-16 bout against Uzbekistan's reigning Asian champion Navbakhor Khamidova this evening, with fellow Paris 2024 competitor Daina Moorehouse (50kg) preceding her into the ring this afternoon against eighth seed Hu Meiyi of China.
The IABA will be hopeful at leats one of these Olympians can have their hand raised after a wipeout in the opening two days of action.
Heavyweight Judy Bobbett lost out on Sunday evening, beaten by veteranTurkish fighter Elif Guneri in an entertaining bout.
Carleigh Irving (48kg) will have gained huge experience as the 19-year-old was narrowly beaten by Venezuala's hugely experienced Tayonis Cendeno Rojas.
Olympians Jenny Lehane (54kg) and Michaela Walsh (58kg) also lost their opening bouts - the former pipped by 2024 Asian champion Natnicha Chongprongklang.
Walsh (58kg) lost to Serbia's Andjela Brankovic on Monday evening in an early contender for fight of the meet.
Ireland boycotted the last edition of the championships over governance concerns but remain affiliated to the International Boxing Association, despite a vote that removed all references to that organisation in the IABA's constitution passing at an EGM last October.
There were doubts over boxing's inclusion at the 2028 LA Olympics after the International Olympic Committee revoked its recognition of the IBA as a governing body and ran the sport's programme at Paris itself, something it indicated it was not prepared to do again.
However, the IOC last week provisionally recognised the rival 78-member World Boxing federation, suggesting the IABA will have to switch affiliation to World Boxing order to send a team to LA.
