The Daily Star Ireland
Ireland’s Aoife O’Rourke has secured a historic victory at the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, defeating Turkey’s Busra Isildar to claim gold in the women’s 75kg division. The Roscommon fighter delivered a commanding performance in the final, earning a 5:0 unanimous decision after winning all three rounds with composure, power, and relentless energy.
Dominant Performance in the Final
O’Rourke faced a formidable opponent in Isildar, who had impressed throughout the competition with her counter-punching style and ability to land off the back foot. However, from the opening bell, the Irish champion’s intensity and fitness proved decisive. Using her trademark left jab, O’Rourke consistently pushed forward, dictating the pace and preventing Isildar from settling into her rhythm.
The judges awarded O’Rourke the first two rounds by a 4:1 margin, placing her in control before the final stanza. Far from easing off, she raised her intensity in the last three minutes, exploiting her opponent’s fatigue and ensuring there was no doubt about the outcome. When the bell rang, all five judges gave the round to O’Rourke, sealing a unanimous victory with scorecards reading 28-29, 27-30, 27-30, 27-30, and 28-29.
Irish Boxing Legacy and Family Pride
Speaking to RTÉ Sport after her triumph, O’Rourke expressed her joy at joining Ireland’s growing list of world champions:
“I’m absolutely delighted. It’s a great honour to be putting my name alongside the other girls and men and women who have achieved this for Ireland as well.”
The achievement also carries special significance within her own family. Aoife now stands alongside her sister, Lisa O’Rourke, who won world gold in Istanbul three years ago in the light middleweight category. The sisters have become standard-bearers for Irish women’s boxing, showcasing the depth of talent and dedication within the sport.
When asked about the secret behind their shared success, Aoife smiled and joked:
“I can’t be telling you that. I’ll be keeping that under my nose.”
A Recipe for Success
While modest about her personal formula, O’Rourke credited discipline, consistency, and the strength of her support network for making the gold medal possible.
“There are a lot of ingredients for a recipe for success and that comes with talent, hard work, coming to training, discipline, all that. But everyone outside of that who feeds into it and gives their portion – coaches, staff, physios, you name it – they’re all there behind the scenes and are there with you every step of the way. Everyone wants to be part of the outcome, but it’s who’s with you along the way that gets you to this point. So I’ve all them to thank.”
What This Means for Irish Boxing
O’Rourke’s victory further strengthens Ireland’s reputation as a powerhouse in amateur boxing. Following in the footsteps of icons such as Katie Taylor, Kellie Harrington, and her sister Lisa, Aoife has added another chapter to the country’s proud legacy on the world stage.
With Paris 2024 on the horizon, this triumph will not only boost her confidence but also highlight the depth of talent Ireland is bringing to the Olympic cycle. For now, though, O’Rourke’s gold medal moment in Liverpool stands as a celebration of perseverance, family pride, and the enduring strength of Irish boxing.
