Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

O'Neill fears boxing 'downfall' ahead of IABA vote

Irish Olympian Darren O'Neill has warned there could be a "downfall" in boxing if the Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) does not accept recommended reforms at an extraordinary AGM this Sunday.

Boxing • 07 Jul 22

Darren O'Neill rolled back the years at the National Stadium

Darren O'Neill becomes oldest ever national champion

At the age of 36, Irish Olympian Darren O'Neill has won his eighth National title and become the oldest ever elite men's national champion.

Boxing • 02 Oct 21

Kurt Walker fared best of the Irish in Ekaterinburg

O'Neill: Question marks over Olympic selection process

Former amateur Eric Donovan and Darren O'Neill boxing stars believe it's premature to panic over the prospects of Irish fighters at next year's Olympics, but Donovan issued a call for clarification on how boxers will be selected for the upcoming qualifiers for Tokyo 2020.

Boxing • 19 Sep 19

'Unreliable' amateur judging prompts O'Neill pro switch

Former Olympian Darren O'Neill admits turning pro at 34 is risky but says he can't afford to spend any more time in an amateur system where results don't always reflect performances.

Boxing • 25 Jul 19

Michael O'Reilly missed the 2016 Rio Olympics

'There was no need and no excuse'

Darren O'Neill believes that Michael O'Reilly can have few complaints after the Portlaoise boxer received a four-year ban for an anti-doping violation.

Boxing • 28 Feb 18

Kellie Harrington is aiming to follow in Katie Taylor's footsteps at lightweight

Bye to final for Harrington, O'Neill out of Nationals

World No 2 ranked Kellie Harrington has received a bye into the lightweight final at the 2018 National Elite Championships but a hand injury has ruled out defending heavyweight champion Darren O'Neill.

Boxing • 06 Feb 18

'This is the swansong' says veteran O'Neill

O'Neill getting ready for his international swansong

Darren O'Neill is hoping to go out on top in what might be his final major boxing championships as a fighter at the Elite Men's European Championships, which start on Friday.

Boxing • 15 Jun 17

Bernard Dunne has hit the ground running in his new role with the IABA

O'Neill impressed with Dunne's immediate impact

Bernard Dunne's demanding approach has already had a positive impact on Irish amateur boxing, barely a month after his appointment as High Performance Director, according to Irish Olympian Darren O'Neill.

Boxing • 24 May 17

Darren O'Neill, Dean Gardiner and Joe Ward are among the nine-strong squad for the European Elite Men's Championships

Four Olympians among Irish boxing squad for Euros

The Irish Athletic Boxing Association today confirmed a nine-strong squad for the European Elite Men's Championships in the Ukraine.

Boxing • 23 May 17

Darren O'Neill fights at the National Stadium on Friday night

Darren O'Neill to face off with Russian Tischenko

Darren O'Neill will renew acquaintances with Russia's Rio 2016 Olympic champion Evgeny Tischenko at Dublin's National Stadium tomorrow evening.

Boxing • 27 Apr 17

Darren O'Neill landed another national title on Friday night in Dublin

Darren O'Neill wins national seventh title

The experienced Darren O'Neill took home his seventh National Elite Championship title claiming a unanimous decision over Athlone's Ken Okungbowa at Heavyweight.

Boxing • 18 Feb 17

Sarah Keane said she was "humbled" to be elected OCI president

Changing of the OCI guard as Keane sweeps in

There was a changing of the Olympic Council of Ireland guard on Thursday night, with Sarah Keane and her supporters sweeping most of the top positions.

Other sport • 10 Feb 17

Sean McComb will make his World Series of Boxing debut next year

Irish trio drafted for 2017 World Series of Boxing

Darren O'Neill, Dean Gardiner and Sean McComb will fly the flag for Ireland in the World Series of Boxing in the 2017 season.

Boxing • 22 Dec 16

The hard work starts afresh for Darren O'Neill

Darren O'Neill sees bright future for Irish boxing

Olympic boxer Darren O'Neill believes that a new generation of Irish fighters are coming through to take the places of the likes of Michael Conlan and Paddy Barnes.

Boxing • 06 Dec 16

Michael Conlan was left disheartened after his defeat

O'Neill: Baffling results hurting boxing

In Seoul, 1988, Roy Jones Junior was infamously cheated of an Olympic gold medal when he lost to local boxer Park Si-Hun, writes London 2012 Olympian Darren O'Neill.

Darren O'Neill • 18 Aug 16

Steven Donnelly (L) bows his head in defeat earlier today

O'NEILL: Many variables at play for the boxer

They say in boxing that styles make fights. In amateur boxing the draw also plays an enormous role, writes Darren O'Neill.

Darren O'Neill • 13 Aug 16

DARREN O'NEILL: Billy's absence overestimated

Following a nightmare week in Rio, I keep hearing people talking about Billy Walsh, writes Darren O'Neill.

Darren O'Neill • 11 Aug 16

The Irish men's Olympic boxing team will be hoping to bring back some medals from Rio

BLOG: Darren O'Neill on Ireland's hopes in boxing

With the draw made and the boxers poised, now is a good time to look at how Team Ireland are positioned in their hopes of Olympic glory.

Darren O'Neill • 07 Aug 16

Darren O'Neill: 'The most I have been tested was three times in the space of ten days.'

BLOG: Darren O'Neill describes process of testing

Darren O'Neill describes the rigorous process of WADA's anti-doping procedures, and why ultimately the buck stops with athletes for ensuring they are clean.

darren o'neill column • 06 Aug 16

The Irish men's Olympic boxing team before departure for Rio

BLOG: Positive test a huge blow for team morale

Just hours before the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics, a positive sample is the last thing Team Ireland would have wanted, writes Darren O'Neill.

darren o'neill column • 05 Aug 16

Darren O'Neill captained the Irish boxing team at the London Olympics

BLOG: O'Neill looks at our boxing prospects in Rio

With merely hours to go before the start of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, there's no better time to look at where our boxers have come from and what they’ve had to go through to get to Rio, writes Darren O'Neill.

darren o'neill column • 04 Aug 16

Darren O'Neill was beaten in the Olympic qualifier in Baku

Rio dream over for O'Neill but O'Reilly fights on

Irish boxer Darren O’Neill's Olympic dream was shattered when he lost in the last 16 of the penultimate qualifier in Baku.

Paris 2024 • 20 Jun 16

Darren O'Neill makes last 16 in Rio qualifiers

Darren O’Neill beat Swedish heavyweight Mustafa El Molla at the Olympic qualifiers in Baku, Azerbaijan on Saturday night.

Boxing • 18 Jun 16

O'Neill (L) and Gardiner must win their weight classes to qualify for Rio

Preview: O'Neill faces daunting final shot at Rio

Darren O’Neill could faces five fights in Baku as he battles to secure his place at a second Olympic Games.

Boxing • 16 Jun 16

Michael O'Reilly is looking to secure a place in Rio

IABA name squad for Baku Olympic qualifiers

The Irish Athletic Boxing Association have confirmed Dean Walsh, Michael O’Reilly, Darren O’Neill and Dean Gardiner will travel to the penultimate Rio 2016 qualifiers in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Boxing • 09 Jun 16