Walsh settles for bronze as O'Rourke strikes gold

Michaela Walsh will return from the European Boxing Championships in Bulgaria with a bronze medal after losing her featherweight semi-final on Thursday, while Lisa O'Rourke banked gold for Team Ireland.The 33-year-old Belfast fighter lost on a 4-1 split decision by Kazakhstan-born Hungarian Vladislava Kukhta [29-28, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28, 28-29] after a technical bout of contrasting styles.Walsh has three podium finishes this year following silver medals at the Commonwealth Games and Strandja Tournament."It was very cagey and the tactics were to try and lead her on [into counters] but she is a great operator and it was always just how that first round was going to go as it would dictate the fight," Walsh told Boxing Ireland."I'm proud of my performance and fought to the very end."2023 was the last time I was on an international podium [until this year]. I was going through a bit of a stale period, but never gave up, believed in myself and knew I could produce big performances."This isn't over, it's just a stepping stone, so onto next year for the Olympic qualifier."Both took a while to settle and a quiet opener was shaded by southpaw Vladislava on three of the five cards.The World Boxing Cup Brazil finalist found a home for some straight lefts, while Walsh enjoyed her own moments when quickening the feet to advance and land on the inside.The pace increased in the second as they began to let their hands go, Vladislava opting for volume to Walsh's more measured approach to draw the lead and counter.Accumulation would catch the eye as the Hungarian's work was rewarded on all five cards to help her into a healthy lead on three cards with two even.Walsh needed a big final round and opened well with a right and while Vladislava was not content to coast home as she enjoyed further success with the left, the Belfast woman boxed superbly with consistent shots finding the target.However, it was not enough in the end as her tournament came to an end. Following Walsh's semi-final O'Rourke banked European gold with a 4-1 split decision win over Russia's Anastasiia Demurchian in their 80kg final.The 24-year-old from Castlerea, Roscommon - who has previously won gold and silver at the World Championships - continued her impressive form with a classy display.O'Rourke got the better of a competitive first as her work was just that bit cleaner, but her dominance would grow in the second, landing with some huge left hands to move into a healthy advantage on all three cards.Demurchian kept pressing, her jab perhaps the best weapon, but O'Rourke was a step ahead, finding the target with lefts and a straight right to underline her dominance.A broad smile at the final bell illustrated O'Rourke's delight and her victory was soon confirmed.O'Rourke's older sister, Aoife, will box in Friday's middleweight final against Russia's Saldant Medenova.