Tyrone Tornado roars back: Jude Gallagher storms to Elite glory

AFTER 15 months sidelined by a back injury, the Two Castles Boxing Club star, Jude Gallagher, delivered a sensational return to top-class form by claiming another National Elite title at the 2026 Elite Championships, Ireland’s premier amateur boxing tournament, held at the iconic National Stadium on Dublin’s South Circular Road on Saturday night.

Seventy-five of the country’s best boxers from 17 counties battled it out over the past two weekends for coveted Elite honours, and Gallagher emerged as one of the standout performers of the entire competition - earning not only the lightweight Elite title, but also being crowned Best Male Elite Boxer of the Tournament.

Gallagher’s path to glory was anything but easy. Drawn into the toughest side of the bracket, he had to overcome three elite-level opponents to reach the summit - and he did so in style.

In the quarter-final on Friday, January 9, Jude faced reigning Irish senior champion Martin McDonagh, a former European junior gold medallist who had recently been training in Las Vegas with former WBC bantamweight title holder, Wayne 'Pocket Rocket' McCullough and attracting professional interest. Despite McDonagh’s pedigree, Gallagher boxed with composure and authority, sealing a unanimous decision victory and coming through the contest unscathed.

The semi-final on Saturday, January 10 brought another major test against Gavin Ryan of Ratoath Golden Gloves, the 2024 Elite champion and a highly decorated boxer across multiple age grades and weight divisions. It was a tight, high-quality contest, with Gallagher winning the first and third rounds, dropping a narrow split decision in the second, but ultimately earning a unanimous verdict from the judges.

The final, held on Saturday last, January 17, delivered everything boxing fans could hope for. Gallagher met Adam Hession of Monivea BC, a former Elite champion and two-time World Championships representative. The pair are no strangers, having now faced each other six times in major Irish finals.

Hession produced arguably the finest performance of his career, pushing Gallagher all the way in what many are calling one of the greatest Elite finals in years. Jude narrowly lost the first round 3–2, bounced back strongly to take the second, and finished the fight in trademark fashion by winning a thrilling final round to claim a 3–2 victory.

Some observers described the bout as the best Elite final since Olympic silver medallist Ken Egan defeated world champion Joe Ward - high praise indeed.

A delighted coach John Gallagher of Newtownstewart’s Two Castles Boxing Club summed it up perfectly.

“It was a great tournament. Jude had three very tough fights against three top-class boxers, and he boxed exceptionally well. We were both delighted with the performances, and to get Best Elite Male Boxer of the Tournament was the icing on the cake.

His body held up well - he’s a bit stiff and sore, but that’s what happens after three tough fights in nine days.”

This Elite triumph marks a major milestone in Gallagher’s comeback. Since returning from injury, he has now come through eight fights in Finland, Belfast and Dublin, climbed back up the world rankings, and is clearly back in peak condition. He’s already back training in Dublin this week and feeling sharper with every session.

The win also adds another chapter to Gallagher’s remarkable Elite legacy - he has now claimed national titles at flyweight, featherweight and lightweight, underlining his versatility and longevity at the highest level.

The momentum doesn’t stop there. Next up is the prestigious 77th Strandja Memorial Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria (February 21 - March 2), the oldest international amateur boxing competition in Europe and often described as a mini World Championships. The event is a key stepping stone toward the European Championships and the road to Los Angeles 2028.

In April, Gallagher heads to Brazil for a Boxing World Cup event in Rio, part of the global series where elite boxers compete across multiple stages to accumulate ranking points, culminating in a year-end Finals showdown.

Later in the year, it’s on to the Commonwealth Games, making for a packed and exciting schedule ahead.

“Jude is in great form,” his camp confirmed - and the boxing world is taking notice.

It’s not just Gallagher flying the flag for Newtownstewart. Local boxing hero Conan McSorley is also making waves, having been selected to represent Ireland against Scotland in Edinburgh on February 2. Competing at youth level in the 55kg category, McSorley’s selection is another sign that Two Castles Boxing Club continues to produce top-tier talent.

With champions returning, rising stars emerging, and international stages beckoning, Irish boxing - and especially Tyrone boxing - is in a very healthy place indeed.