Walsh and McConnell guaranteed bronze as Fryers exits
Walsh and McConnell guaranteed bronze as Fryers exits
David Mohan - BBC Sport NI journalist at the SEC Centre, Glasgow Wed, July 29, 2026 at 1:22 PM UTC
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Walsh has now medalled at four Commonwealth Games
Michaela Walsh delivered a punch-perfect display to guarantee herself at least bronze, dominating Scotland's Lara Brown in their featherweight quarter-final, but Caitlin Fryers bowed out in the flyweight division.
The defending Commonwealth Games champion put on an exhibition of counter-punching to win every round on all five cards, sweeping into Friday's semi-final where she will face Fiji's Jasmine Daunakamakama.
It is Walsh's fourth Commonwealth Games and the Holy Family fighter has now earned a medal in each, winning gold four years ago with silvers in 2018 and 2014.
However, it's performance rather than podium which is driving the 33-year-old this time.
"Medals don't define happiness," Walsh told BBC Sport NI.
"I'm just here to be the best version of myself and if that is the podium then it will be.
"That girl [Brown] was very good, tricky and I had to adjust a bit. She was strong and I said to her after 'you're only 19 years of age and I remember being here when I was a youngster', so she'll take a lot from that."
Walsh quickly put her stamp on proceedings, timing her raids to perfection with scoring right hands earning her the nod across the board in the opener.
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Boxing off the back foot, Walsh was happy to draw Brown in and counter, taking few risks as she circled the ring with the Scot unable to enjoy much success.
Going into the final round, Walsh was comfortably in front and began with a coupe of jabs but swiftly returned to her counter-punching style, setting traps and punishing, yet showed another side in the final moments when trading up close to finish in style.
Fryers comes up short as McConnell receives walkover
Fryers lost on a unanimous decision against India's Shakshi
In the flyweight division, Fryers lost on a unanimous decision against the tall and long Shakshi from India.
"I'm a bit disappointed I didn't get a medal as that was the goal and go from there, but I've gone out against the best one [opponent] there," Fryers told BBC Sport NI.
Fryers had a job to get into range with Shakshi busy with off jab but did manage to time a pair of left hands.
The India fighter was a moving target, measuring the distance to nullify the Belfast woman who had to take risks to get inside and work, but Shakshi - warned on a couple of occasions - had a point deducted in the second for holding.
It simply encouraged her to maintain distance as Fryers followed her around the ring but was unable to get close enough to work as Shakshi held a healthy advantage going into the final round.
Despite her best efforts, Fryers just couldn't close the gap as her journey came to an end.
Meanwhile, Jon McConnell is guaranteed bronze by way of walkover victory against Carl Hield. The pair were due to meet in Wednesday's evening session.
Source: “AOL Sports”
