Kellie crowned Senior champion for first time
By Hayden Moore
KELLIE McLoughlin boxed her way to a first National Senior Championship title at the National Stadium last Friday.
One of 18 new champions crowned on the night, the Drimnagh Boxing Club star lined out in the 57kg division and had her hand raised in the final after outboxing a former World Junior medallist.
Kellie McLoughlin wins National Senior title. (Photo by Tara Robins Mari)
The 21-year-old beat Catherine Blaney of Navan by unanimous decision in the quarter-finals before receiving a walkover in to the final.
In a rematch of the Celtic Box Cup Final, McLoughlin took on Curragh ABC’s Kelsey Leonard in the National final.
Over three, three-minute rounds, McLoughlin mustered up a performance that was scored 4-1 by the judges in her favour – giving her the split decision victory.
This was not the first time they met however, with McLoughlin also claiming a win over Leonard back in September in the 57kg Female A Final during the Celtic Box Cup in Waterford.
Only boxing five years, the Rialto native first laced up her gloves in Crumlin BC before making the switch to Drimnagh BC, where she claimed an Under-18 National title.
