Jack Marley (born 16 November 2002) is an Irish amateur boxer who won a gold medal at heavyweight at the 2022 European Under-22 Championships and silver at the 2023 European Games. He has been selected for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | November 16, 2002[1] Sallynoggin, Ireland[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 186 cm (6 ft 1 in)[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Boxing | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight class | Heavyweight | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Monkstown Boxing Club[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Career
editHaving started boxing aged 8 at Monkstown Boxing Club in Dublin,[3] Marley was 11 when he claimed his first Irish age-group title[3][4] and was still just 18 when he won a bronze medal in the heavyweight division at the 2021 European Under-22 Championships in Roseto degli Abruzzi, Italy.[5][6]
He was invited to join the Irish Amateur Boxing Association elite training group in May 2021,[4] before winning his first national elite title in October 2021, beating Marcin Skalski by unanimous decision and becoming the second youngest-ever champion in the heavyweight category.[7][8][9]
Marley took gold at the next European under-22s held in Poreč, Croatia, in March 2022, defeating Italy's Roberto Lizzi via unanimous decision in the final.[10][11][12][13][14]
In May 2022, he made his senior international debut at the European Amateur Boxing Championships in Armenia but lost in his opening fight against Greece's Vagkan Nanitzanian when an accidental clash of heads in round two caused a cut above Marley's eye leading to an early stoppage and a defeat on points.[15][16][17]
Marley won a silver medal at the 2023 European Games in Kraków, Poland, losing to Aziz Abbes Mouhiidine from Italy in the final but securing his place at the 2024 Summer Olympics in the process.[3][4][18][19] The result made him the first Irish heavyweight medalist at a major championships since Gearóid Ó Colmáin won the European title in 1947.[4] He also became the first heavyweight from his country to reach an Olympics since Cathal O'Grady in 1996.[18][20]
Following a public vote, Marley was named the 2023 Irish Boxing Amateur Boxer of the Year.[21][22]
In February 2024, Marley won a bronze medal at the prestigious Strandja Memorial Tournament in Bulgaria.[4][23]
Two months later, at the 2024 European Amateur Boxing Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, he went out in the first round, losing via split decision to Belgian fighter Victor Schelstraete.[24][25]
References
edit- ^ "Jack Marley". tapology. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ a b c "Boxrec profile of Jack Marley". Boxrec.com. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ a b c "Big Hitter - Sean McGoldrick: Plan A is working out for Jack Marley". Sunday World. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ a b c d e "Jack Marley's heavyweight ambitions for Paris benefiting from early Olympic qualification". Irish Times. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ "Guts but no glory – Jack Marley has to settle for bronze". Irish Boxing. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ "Jack Marley takes home Euro U22 Bronze". Monkstown Boxing Club. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ "O'Neill wins 8th Senior title, Marley wows at heavyweight, and Cassidy shocks Hyde at the Stadium". The 42. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ "Boxing: Dubliners shine on the national televised stage". Dublin Gazette. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ "LIVE UPDATES: 2021 National Elite Senior Finals Night". Irish Boxing. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ "Heavyweight Hero Jack Marley wins European GOLD". Irish Boxing. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ "Jack Marley delivers third Euro U22 boxing gold for Ireland". RTE. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ "Jack Marley makes it three golds for Ireland at European U-22 Boxing Championships in Croatia". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ "Jack Marley becomes third gold-medal winner for Ireland at European U22 Championships". The 42. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ "Jack Marley vs Roberto Lizzi". boxrec.com. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ "European Championships: Irish fighters McKeever, Maguire and Marley beaten in Armenia". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ "Jack Marley's Bizarre and Extremely Unfortunate Defeat Sums up Unfortunate Day for Ireland in European Championships". Irish Boxing. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ "Highly unfortunate defeat for heavyweight medal prospect Marley in Yerevan". The 42. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ a b "'What I hoped but not what I expected' – Marley reacts to European Games". Irish Boxing. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ "Jack Marley has to settle for silver as dream European Games come to an end". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ "European Games: Jack Marley and Aoife O'Rourke qualify for Olympics; Kellie Harrington also reaches final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ "WINNERS: The 2023 Irish-Boxing.com Awards". Irish Boxing. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ "Boxing Honours for Dubliners". Dublin Gazette. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ "GOING FOR GOLD – Aoife O'Rourke beats Olympic medalist in Strandja semi". Irish Boxing. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ "Mixed fortunes for Irish boxers on opening day of European championships". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ "Marley Out – Hession Progresses – Mixed Fortunes for Ireland in European Championships". Irish Boxing. Retrieved 2024-06-12.