GALWAY’S GABRIEL DOSSEN has won gold at the Men’s European Elite Boxing Championships in Yerevan, Armenia, after defeating England’s Lewis Richardson in their 75kg final.
The 22-year-old, representing his country for the first time as a senior at a major international tournament, was awarded a unanimous decision in the middleweight showpiece following a closely-fought and entertaining contest with Colchester’s Richardson, 24.
Dossen took the first round on all five judges’ scorecards, routinely beating fellow southpaw Richardson both to the jab and with his backhand left.
The Englishman, however, came back well in the second, edging it 3-2 with neater, more accurate work, accentuated by a thudding two-punch combo as the pair briefly cut loose on each other.
That left it 20-18(x2) and 19-19 (x3) going into the last, meaning Dossen needed only to impress one of the three judges who had it level at that juncture in order to be crowned European champion.
Instead, he won them all over, battling conspicuous tiredness to outwork Richardson with flurries and winning the bout on each of the five judges’ scorecards.
Scenes in Yerevan as Ireland's Gabriell Dossen beats England's Lewis Richardson to win European gold at middleweight. Tremendous bout pic.twitter.com/ndwE70UFFM
— Kevin Byrne (@KevByrneBox) May 30, 2022
Dossen’s victory caps a remarkable couple of weeks for his club, Olympic BC Galway, and its head coach Mike Mongan, who also boast among their ranks a newly crowned world champion in the shape of Roscommon’s Lisa O’Rourke.
The same goes for Ireland’s lead trainer Zaur Antia, who along with his assistant coaches has steered Ireland to four major medals in the space of just two international tournaments in the backend of May.
Three of those medals were golds, and the silver was taken earlier this afternoon by Bangor man Dylan Eagleson who came up short in his 54kg final versus France’s Bilal Bennama.
European silver for Dylan Eagleson in his first competition as an elite. Soundly beaten by 🇫🇷 in the 54kg final but showed enough over the tournament, and even in flashes during the final itself, for Irish boxing fans to be so excited about this 19-year-old. Some breakthrough. pic.twitter.com/lS4HNqp2yD
— Gavan Casey (@GavanCasey) May 30, 2022
The 19-year-old is the son of former two-time European bronze medallist Phil Sutcliffe Sr and was competing in Armenia not only for the first time in a senior Ireland vest like Dossen, but in his very first competition as an elite: Eagleson has not yet even competed in the adult ranks of Ireland’s national championships.
His brilliant breakout run over the past week came to an end at the hands of Bennama, a two-time World Championship bronze medallist at 23.
For the first time all tournament, Eagleson was made to look a touch raw by his slightly slicker opponent. After losing the first round 10-9 across the board, the Irishman began the second brilliantly only to walk onto a counter left which dropped him to the canvas, all but securing the round — and the bout — for the silky Frenchman.
Bennama was able to ride out the third with a comfortable lead, Eagleson again showing glimpses of his future capacity for brilliance but not coming close to forcing the stoppage he needed for gold.
The teenager was conspicuously dispirited in defeat but was told to keep his head up by Bennama, and was reminded by his corner of how valuable an experience it had been for him to make it all the way to a major international final in his maiden outing as a senior.
Eagleson warmly applauded the excellent Bennama as both fighters awaited the official verdict.
The St Paul’s BC youngster is now entitled to €40,000 in Sport Ireland funding for 2023 and 2024, as is gold medallist Dossen.
Thank God for the bench…..never thought I’d say that!
Proud? Proud of scraping by a team that were hockeyed by Scotland last week? Pull the other one Andy
@5sZl1dX2: same team beat the almighty England Ray
Line out complete disaster need a hooker that will throw straight and ryan and Mccarthy need to live up to their big reputation
@frank walsh: paulie ??
@frank walsh: Leinster’s lineout hums along every week with Ryan and McCarthy having very few problems.
Bring O’Connell in to coach it and Beirne to “run” it in the same way he does the worst lineout in Europe for Munster and all of a sudden it’s a disaster.
@teuO6nLS: none of the provinces line outs are statistically very good. Having watched Leinster beat ulster last night neither was impressive except defensively
So much negativity. We won. There were years we never won. Support our team or STFU
@Tony Joyce: we’re top 2 in world and played badly in 3 out last 4 matches.
@Papa Kilo: so what
@Tony Joyce: Glad we won i cant take this negativity anymore i just want to swing at them
@Tony Joyce: how dare you call out Ray and his multiple accounts
The headline “Crowleys impact sees Ireland over the line” does a massive disservice to Craig Casey. He should have been the headline. Forget Crowley v Prendergast. Let’s talk about Casey v Gibson Park.
@Pud: plus the fact that prendergast had a superb game. He oozes class.
It’s a friendly 2 years out from a world cup and we won what are looking for
@Cathal Brennan: we’ve been shocking bar beating a team still hungover after beating Wales something very off at moment.
@Papa Kilo: are we expecting too much from leinster players having to deliver at a high level for club and Country.for some reason they not doing it for Farrell at moment.munster boys did well though.
@Papa Kilo:
@Matt Gilsenan: stupid comment but can’t be helped
@Papa Kilo: Shocking dear god we are a tiny country we win so many games id say we lost 7 games in 3 years won over 20 yes not playing like before the world cup but still winning
It’s been a very underwhelming autumn series. Got out of jail again today. The writing has been on the wall this season, however. Just look at the rubbish being dished out by the provinces. Gets worse every round. Let’s see if munster can improve on the pathetic showing of the other 3 this weekend.
@Ray Ridge: We’re England and we must use every opportunity to make Ireland and its people feel inferior to us
@Ray Ridge: won 3 out off 4 playing badly id take it everyday mr mizerable oh and munster won
@Ray Ridge: Leinster are top of the URC ya pleb hahaha. Ireland outplayed and beat the all conquering Australia without getting out of first gear. What does that say about you and your predictions. Series couldn’t have gone any better. 4 from 5 and plenty to work on and now we know what needs to be improved. Ireland didn’t wake up one morning sh/t£ as you would have people believe with your anti irish rhetoric. Why don’t you go on the English threads and praise the almighty there
The reality is the game is constantly moving and evolving and we have to be willing to go with it. We have played the same way for at least three years and we need to be adaptable which does seem to be a touch lacking. That’s not to say we throw everything out. Some of the innovation off the line out is brilliant but we need to focus on our set piece which are both suspect and then look at how teams have started to counter us. They’re all smart enough guys to recognise this and develop some other wrinkles to the game
Looking at it was a good test. Too many handling errors but it happens. All of the Autumn games we have been giving away cheap penalties. So things can only get better also we looked at a few fresh faces which is always good.
To many none leinster players on the pitch.Beirne,Aki,Hanson,Behlaim should all be dropped and replaced with leinster players.
@Ross Clancy: …learn to spell, !d!0t!
@Ross Clancy: all the money in Dublin and still couldn’t receive an education. It’s true what my grandmother used say, you can’t educate pork
@Ross Clancy: Nice sarcusm
@Ross Clancy: Ross you posted this after 9pm which is way past your bedtime. If it happens again santy will not be bringing you the harry potter Lego set you asked for
Much too much hype about Prendergast – never took the ball to the Aussie defence. Posed no threat. Good kicker from the hand but looked lost when Aussies rumbled forward.