Young Meath boxer continues to pack a punch
BOXING Ella Thompson to fight in the 3 Arena
Young Meath boxer Ella Thompson is one of the boxers taking part in schedule of bouts at the 3 Arena on Friday 20th September.
Thompson (16) who is from Summerhill takes on Dolly Sambrook from the UK in an amateur bout.
The 3 Arena show featurs the highly anticipated homecoming to Ireland of Cork native Callum Walsh who wll defend his WBC Continental Americas Super Welterweight title in the main event against Pole Przemyslaw Runowski.
Trained by the legendary boxing mentor Freddie Roache, Walsh has created quite a stir in boxing circles. He is managed by Tom Loeffler, who helped to shape the careers of Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko as well as Gennady Golovkin.
Teenager Thompson continues to make an impact in the world of boxing - something that's hardly surprising because she has shown a selfless dedication to getting better in the sport.
That dedication is paying off too. She was crowned Junior 2 All-Ireland champion in the 46kg category at Roscommon last April - another title in a string of triumphs she has claimed in her young career so far.
A big admirer of Katie Taylor (she trained with the World champion a few years ago) Thompson has, in recent times, won a Leinster title. She was also victorious in the Michael Andrews championships, the Manchester Winter Box Cup and the Riga Box Cup.
In addition to all that she reached the finals of the Sweden Golden Girls, Wexford Box Cup and the Belfast Box Cup in her category - all in recent times.
Those competitions are just some of the steps the youngster has taken in fulfilling an ambition she has harboured and worked on from an early age - to represent Ireland in boxing in the Olympics. Sports people are constantly encouraged to have goals. Ella has hers - and they are written up in lights for all to see.
A student at Scoil Dara, Kilcock, Ella trains part of the time with her father at a gym in Summerhill run by Kevin Dowling, a relation of the great Irish amateur boxer Mick Dowling. She also trains in Newbridge BC and on Saturdays with professionals at O'Rourke's Gym in Inchicore.
"Ella loves boxing and lives for the sport," is how her father and trainer Cliff Thompson put it.
"Ella's dream and her goal is to represent Ireland in the Olympics, and if she doesn't get that she wants to be a professional but I wouldn't like her to follow that route until she has finished college first."
Ella's pursuit of her ambitions has brought her down some interesting highways and byways.
A few years ago she featured on the Late, Late Toy Show where she met Katie Taylor who offered to train with the Summerhill girl. They subsequently had a two-hour training session together. On the Late, Late Ella showed off her boxing skills and was also interviewed by Ryan Tubridy, the youngster at home in the spotlight.
Since the age of eight Ella has wanted to be boxer although she was also involved in other sports including athletics and kick-boxing.
Ella has also clearly a kind heart as a few years ago she was involved in raising funds for a little Galway boy who had to have his wheelchair adopted for school. Ella's second name is Joy and her nickname is Joyful so t-shirts with 'Joyful Boxer' were made and sold to raise funds for the cause.
It was a project that indicated her caring nature but once she steps into a ring she is clearly focused on winning in what is a tough, demanding sport.
The full list of fighers taking part in the forthcoming 3 Arena event include:
Callum Walsh (11-0, fighting out of Cork, Ireland) will defend his WBC Continental Americas Super Welterweight for the second time at the 3Arena, following consecutive knockout wins over Dauren Yeleussinov and Carlos Ortiz. The fight marks Walsh’s first professional main event appearance on home soil and with 9 KOs in his career, this headline bout is sure to deliver fireworks. Walsh is coached by Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach and is touted as one of the sport’s brightest talents.
Przemyslaw Runowski (22-2-1, fighting out of Slupsk, Poland) heads into the event unbeaten in his last five outings and having never been stopped. He is the top rated boxer in Poland in the super welterweight division and has his eyes on ruining Walsh’s homecoming and taking his belt.
Ali Akhmedov (21-1, fighting out of Almaty, Kazakhstan) returns to the ring for the third time in 2024, following back-to-back knockout victories in April and May. Completing the transition from prospect to contender, the bout is his opportunity to show the world why he is one of the most exciting fighters in the Super Middleweight division.
Pierre Hubert Dibombe (22-1-1, fighting out of Nates, Loire-Atlantique, France) has the opportunity to complete his mission of becoming world champion by 2026 when he meets Akhmedov in Dublin. The Frenchman is looking to bounce back strongly, having suffered his first professional loss by unanimous decision, bringing an end to a 23-unbeaten streak.
Also in the schedule are:
* Thomas Carty (8-0, fighting out of Dublin, Ireland), who trained with double Oympian Kellie Harrington, takes on Jacek Chruslicki (8-0, fighting out of Nowy Sącz, Poland) in a Heavyweight bout.
Former Olympian Emmett Brennan (3-0, fighting out of Dublin, Ireland) faces Kevin Cronin (8-1-1, fighting out of County Kerry, Ireland) in an eight-round bout for the Super Middleweight Celtic Title.
Craig O’Brien (14-3, fighting out of Dublin Ireland) clashes with Edward Donavan (7-0 fighting out of Limerick, Ireland) for the Super Welterweight Celtic Title.
Shauna O’Keefe (2-0, fighting out of Clonmel, Ireland) locks horns with Valgerdur Gudsteinsdottir (7-5, fighting out of Reykjavik, Iceland).
Gareth Dowling (fighting out of Dublin, Ireland) makes his professional debut on the card.
Ella Thompson (6-4, fighting out Newbridge) takes on Dolly Sambrook (4-3, fighting out of the United Kingdom) in an amateur bout.