Jude Gallagher has advanced to the lightweight quarter-finals at the European Boxing Championships held in Bulgaria. Representing County Tyrone, Gallagher secured his second win of the tournament by stopping France’s Lounes Hamraoi in the third round.
Despite being behind on the judges’ scorecards after the first round, Gallagher intensified his efforts in rounds two and three, managing to force standing counts before the referee halted the fight. He now prepares for his quarter-final match on Wednesday against Cuban-born Spanish boxer Ewart Andrés Marín Hernández.
Reflecting on his performance, Gallagher told Boxing Ireland, “In the first round, I tried to box him, but he was a counter-punching southpaw and just edged me while I was a bit slow. I adjusted my approach in the second round by taking the fight to him, landed a body shot that forced a count in round two, and finished him in the third, so I’m very pleased.”
Meanwhile, Team Ireland’s Kellie McLoughlin was eliminated in the lightweight last 16. The Dubliner, who stepped in late to replace the injured Kellie Harrington, lost narrowly by a 4-1 split decision to France’s Sthélyne Grosy.
Fan Take:
Jude Gallagher’s comeback victory highlights the determination and adaptability that boxing fans love to see, signaling his potential as a rising star on the European stage. His progression adds excitement to the championships and demonstrates how tactical shifts can change the tide, which is what makes this sport so thrilling to follow.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
