Ireland's Aoife O'Rourke reaches final at World Championships

The 42

Updated at 15.21

IRELAND’S AOIFE O’Rourke has beaten China’s Chengyu Yang in the semi-finals of the World Championships in Liverpool today, while there was disappointment for Patsy Joyce.

The boxer from Castelrea, County Roscommon, will face Turkey’s Busra Isildar – a world and European medalist – in the 75kg final on Sunday.

O’Rourke is guaranteed a silver medal at least after a 4-0 victory against the 2023 world champion.

The judges scored the bout 28:28, 27:29, 26:30, 27:29, 26:30 in favour of the Irishwoman.

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Elsewhere, Joyce lost his 55kg semi-final against Spain’s Rafael Serrano Lozano via split decision.

The Westmeath native was on the wrong end of a 3-2 split after a closely fought contest.

Judges awarded the bout in favour of the Paris Olympian — 28:29, 28:29, 29:28, 29.28, 27:30.

The 19-year-old still goes home with a bronze and becomes the first Irish male boxer to medal in this competition since his cousin Joe Ward won silver in Hamburg in 2017.

It is also the first time Ireland have won three medals at these championships since 2015, with Grainne Walsh claiming a bronze on Friday. 

Written by Paul Fennessy and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.