Athlone Boxing Club representative selected for European U23 Championships

Athlone Boxing Club will be represented at the European U23 Championships after local fighter Tom Stokes was selected for the Irish team competing at the tournament next month.

The championships are taking place in Poreč, Croatia, from November 14 to 23.

Tom Stokes, who has enjoyed success at national level in recent years, was chosen as Team Ireland's representative in the 90+kg category.

Boxing Ireland said the benchmark tournament will be "an important one for boxers transitioning from Youth to Elite," with up to 40 European boxing federations eligible to enter.

Preparations for the team include almost 12 weeks of High Performance training and an ongoing October Series of U23 test matches taking place in the National Stadium gym throughout this month.

The team is managed by Anna Moore of St Francis BC, and High Performance Coach, James Doyle, is Head Coach for this tournament – supported by coaches JP Delaney, Liam Cunningham and Valerie Hamilton (St Francis BC).

U23 Championship Head Coach James Doyle said: "We have a talented group heading to Poreč, with a mix of championship experience and boxers ready to take the next step on the international stage.

"The work put in over recent months has been excellent, and the October Series has given us a valuable opportunity to assess the squad in competitive conditions.

"Now it's about bringing that preparation into the ring, adapting to different opponents and delivering performances that reflect the standards we've set as a team.

"We're looking forward to the challenge," he added.