IRELAND'S NEWEST boxing heros Amy Broadhurst and Lisa O' Rourke received a warm welcome on their return back to Ireland from the World Championships in Istanbul in Turkey.
The pair made history, firstly Broadhurst claimed victory in the light-welterweight final against Algeria’s Imane Khelif, and O'Rourke beat Mozambique's Alcinda Helena Panguane in the final of the light middleweight division.
The pair now join an elite group of Irish boxers that became world champions at ameteur level. These include Katie Taylor, Michael Conlan and the likes of Kellie Harrington.
She is home @amybroadhurst12 @IBA_Boxing World Champion Congratulations to Ireland's latest World Champion! pic.twitter.com/W04meuy27d
— LMFM RADIO (@LMFMRADIO) May 21, 2022
Both fighters received immense support after landing in Dublin airport before heading back to their hometowns.
Broadhurst traveled back to Dundalk and O' Rourke made way to Castlerea, in Co. Roscommon.
Broadhurst got a phone call from Katie Taylor and remarked that the Bray native was one of her idols growing up
This is crazy. I watched Katie Taylor ten years ago when she won the Olympics in Bray when she had the whole of her estate out and the fact that it’s happening to me now ten years later… The support is just unbelievable, Broadhurst told RTE in a radio interview.
“Thank you very much to every single one of you that has come out today.
"My aunty’s here, my grandad came up to the airport, he’s 86, and I never ever ever thought I’d see this and I just want to say thank you very much for all the support from everybody, you’ve been incredible with sponsorship and edging me on when things got tough.
Thank you very, very much.”
According to The Mirror both fighters took home prize money between €86,000 and €94,000 and are each guaranteed €40,000 of Sport Ireland funding for 2023 as they aim for the 2024 Olympics.
See More: #IAmIrish, Boxing, Lisa O' Rourke, World Championships
