Gallagher wins international gold in Sweden

Mulhuddart Boxing Academy’s Jessica Gallagher delivered a standout international triumph after capturing gold at the prestigious Golden Girls International Tournament in Borås, Sweden, competing in the 54kg Elite B category.

After a 12 week training camp, Gallagher travelled to Sweden and produced a series of composed and determined performances to climb to the top of the podium, marking a major moment of pride for her club and for the local boxing community.

Jessica Gallagher

She opened her campaign in confident fashion with a unanimous decision victory over Scotland’s Aroush Sheikh of Coppola BC in the quarter final on Saturday, January 31, setting the tone for the weekend ahead.

Momentum continued to build in the semi final, where she edged Germany’s Meryen Vermez of BABV BC on a 2 to 1 split decision in a tightly contested bout that secured her place in the final on Sunday, February 1.

There, she faced the highly fancied and undefeated Layla Khan of Team Athena, an England Performance Pathway boxer.

Jessica pictured after being crowned Champion

Gallagher rose to the occasion and produced her best display of the tournament, earning another 2 to 1 split decision victory to seal the title and cap an outstanding run.

Jessica pictured sparring with her coach Gerry McDaid

Her coach, Gerry McDaid of Mulhuddart Boxing Academy, praised both her performance and her commitment in the lead up to the competition.

“As her coach I am extremely proud of her achievements and believe she has a bright future in the sport.

“The win caps a fine year for Jess, who also reached two Irish Under-19 finals.

“A big thank you to the Dublin team for looking after Jess and well done to the whole Dublin team.”

Gallagher’s success came on one of the biggest stages in female amateur boxing. Every year, the world of the sport turns its attention to Sweden for the Golden Girl Championship, a tournament that has earned a reputation as one of the premier international competitions for female fighters.

Set against the winter backdrop of Borås, the 2026 edition took place from January 30 to February 1, bringing together hundreds of competitors from across the globe.

Since its founding in 2009, the event has grown significantly in scale and prestige, attracting top boxing talent from continents around the world.

For 2026, teams and athletes from dozens of nations competed across a range of weight classes and age categories.

The tournament is structured to include elite, youth, junior and diploma boxing divisions, creating a diverse mix of experienced fighters and rising stars.

Competitors engage in a series of bouts over three key competition days, with weigh ins and medical checks determining eligibility before action gets underway.

More than 400 participants competed across various weight divisions this year, making the 2026 event one of the largest in the Championship’s history.

Against that backdrop of global competition and high standards, Gallagher’s path to gold stands out as a significant achievement.

Across three bouts she showed consistency, resilience and composure, first overcoming Sheikh, then narrowly defeating Vermez, before producing her strongest performance of the tournament to get the better of Khan in the final.

The victory crowns months of preparation and hard work and adds another highlight to a strong year for the Mulhuddart boxer, who also reached two Irish Under 19 finals.

It also places Mulhuddart Boxing Academy firmly on the international stage, with one of its fighters returning home as a champion from one of the most respected tournaments in the sport.