No stopping boxer Jack after clinching Junior Cadet title

WHAT a season young Jack Jones from Sacred Heart BC who has had this year going undefeated winning the Dublin Leagues, the Dublin Championships, the All-Ireland championships, winning gold for Dublin in Hungary at the Akos Toth Memorial Tournament and now he’s National Junior Cadet champion.

As a result, Jack has qualified to represent Ireland at the European Schoolboy Championships in Bosnia and Herzegovina in August which he starts training for with the national team this week.

Over the last three weeks, the Sacred Heart Boxing club member contested the National Junior Cadet Championships which is a qualifier for the European Championships.

And there was delight for the Killinarden boxer who faced stiff opposition having to come through four tough fights to be crowned 46kg champion.

First up in the preliminary rounds Jack drew Sè O’Neil from St Canice’s, Dungiven and after a tentative first round, he grew stronger in the second and third taking the decision on a 5.0 unanimous setting up a quarter-final with Jack Cahil from Portlaoise Boxing club.

After a strong performance landing big back hands at will the referee stopped the contest in Round three.

Into the semi-finals, Jack faced Irish champion from Olympic Boxing club in Mullingar Anthony Stokes.

After an action-packed contest, the talented Jack took the decision on the judges’ scorecards 4.1 setting up an All-Dublin showdown in the finals with Baldoyle’s Alex Pepper.

After a terrific fight that was back and forward, the judges awarded Jack the decision on a 3.2 split decision earning him the crown of National 46kg junior cadet champion.

“As a club we couldn’t be any prouder of this young man.

“The club is going from strenght to strenght consistently over the last 3 years having kids selected to box for Ireland in European Championships in Erzurum Turkey 2022, Maribor in Slovenia 2023 and Sarajevo Bosnia 2024 the future is bright,” said Sacred Heart club official Tommy Hanrahan.

“The hearts also have senior cadet champion Abbey Molloy travelling to Bosnia and Herzegovina this weekend to represent Ireland at the European Junior Championships going for gold after winning bronze at in turkey in 2022,”.