2024 Boxing 2nd World Qualification Tournament – Day 5: Aidan Walsh continues comeback

Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medallist Aidan Walsh continued his comeback to the ring with an impressive win on day five of the 2024 Boxing 2nd World Qualification Tournament in Bangkok, Thailand on Tuesday (28 May).

The 27-year-old, who also secured a 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medal for Northern Ireland, outclassed Youcef Yaiche in their men’s 71kg bout, defeating the Algerian with a 4-1 split decision to progress to the last-16.

Walsh retired from boxing last year after suffering with mental health issues, but returned to the sport with the ambition of competing at the Olympic Games Paris 2024*, and put on an encouraging performance in the 1st World Qualifier in Italy.

Brazil’s Wanderson de Oliveira, who eliminated Walsh at that event, also secured victory on Day 5 in the Indoor Stadium Huamark.

The 2023 World bronze medallist had too much pace and power for Zambia’s Steven Zimba, finishing the bout with a unanimous 5-0 win, also at 71kg.

There was better news for Africa however, with Ghanian continental lightweight champion Joseph Commey, who edged Democratic Republic of Congo’s Kabengela Ntumba 3-2 on split decision at 63.5kg.

*As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective teams at the Olympic Games, athletes’ participation at Paris 2024 depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation.