We interview Wexford boxer Shauna Kearney ahead of Ireland’s National Elite Championships

One Wexford boxer will be taking part in the National Elites this month…

Bunclody boxer, Shauna Kearney, has entered into the national competition among Ireland’s best. Although she was originally put in the category to be fighting in the 75kg division, she has decided that she will now enter into the 81kg division – where she’ll be placed into a straight final against her opponent.

We had the chance to interview Wexford boxer Shauna Kearney as she prepares for the National Elites which take place in less than two week’s time.

Regarding her preparation, Shauna says that it’s going well and as a member of the Irish Defence Forces, she has been given additional time off to train which helped further in her preparation:

“The preparations are going really good. I’m recently just back from Istanbul, I went over to train with and spar 75kg European champion Busra Isildar. I’m in the Irish Defence Forces and they’ve given all their Elite boxers time off to train and prepare for these Elite championships. I couldn’t recommend joining them enough… I joined over a year ago and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made,” she tells Wexford Weekly.

Wexford’s Shauna Kearney is a six-time National champion. Last year, Kearney won a National Elite champion after her opponent was forced to give a walk-over in the 70kg division. After being crowned the champion, she insisted that “a walkover is not how I wanted to win my first elite title – but best believe I’ve trained hard for this and I know I deserve it.”

This time, she will have an opponent in the ring alongside her. Uniquely, she told us that the opponent she will be facing is actually a good friend of hers and a regular sparring partner. , Her opponent will be Mikayla Kelly, the Laois boxer who fights out of Sacred Heart Boxing Club. While they’re good friends, they won’t be backing down with silverware on the line:

“So we’ve been each others sparring partner for the past few months – but no, we’re both the type to give it our all in the ring and come out friends again. It’ll be a cracker of a fight,” Shauna said.

Along with the Elites, Kearney also has her sights on some international competitions, hoping to take part in two international competitions before the end of the year.

“I have the Women’s Winter Box Cup in England coming up a week or so after the Elites. Then, I’ll be fighting at the Algarve Box Cup in December over in Portugal. Then next year. I’ll have more international competitions with the defence forces and please god the Irish team also,” the Bunclody woman said.

Three male Wexford boxers decided to turn pro over the last few months. With the women’s pro boxing game on the rise, perhaps this may have came to her head as she’s still just 26. But, for Shauna, she’s not interested in that and her future sights are set firmly on the amateur ranks and representing Ireland on the international stage:

“I’ve no interest in turning pro…. Instead, my long term goal is to box for Team Ireland at LA 2028,” she told Wexford Weekly.

The National Elite Boxing Championships will begin on Monday, November 11th, at the National Stadium, Dublin. Finals will take place on Friday, November 15th.

Tickets will be available at the National Stadium Box Office.

In related Wexford boxing news, the Wexford Box Cup will take place in St Joseph’s community centre in Bishopswater from November 8th to November 10th.