Top honours for Donegal boxers at Porto Box Cup

There was plenty of success at the weekend in Portugal for three Donegal boxers who walked away with medals at the Porto Box Cup with the Ulster High-Performance team. 

The competition which was held on Easter weekend brought together over 60 teams representing the following countries: Portugal, Spain, England, Norway, Ireland, Switzerland, Netherlands, France, Wales and Croatia. 

It was Letterkenny man Jack Harkin, who boxes out of the Oakleaf club in Derry, who brought home the top prize at the 54kg category. 

The 18-year-old won gold after defeating the Portugal No 1 in a second-round stoppage.  

However, there were controversial circumstances involved for Harkin at the tournament when his opponent in the opening fight was scheduled to fight someone else, Harkin was told he had a bye to the final. 

But the officials made a mistake and told Harkin that he was meant to fight a Portuguese boxer instead, leaving them to cancel his contest. But after some negotiating, Harkin was allowed to fight in the final which resulted in the Letterkenny man bringing home gold to Donegal. 

Cahir Gormley from the Illies Boxing Club, who was recently crowned champion last January at the Ulster Boxing Council IABA Elite finals, lost out in the 67kg category on a 3-2 split decision to Portuguese fighter Jose Bolela in the Porto Box Final but still comes home with a silver medal. 

While Donegal’s third fighter Danny Duffy, from the Raphoe boxing club, settled for bronze after losing 5-0 by unanimous decision to Tokyo Olympic boxer David de Pina.