Pukuta pipped in National Under 17 Championship decider

DESPITE a very strong performance, Portlaoise Boxing Club’s Kevin Pukuta came up just short in his bid for 2025 National Under 17 Championship success after he lost out on a unanimous decision to John Ward of Monivea BC in the 75kg decider in the National Stadium on Friday night.

However, Pukuka, who is eligible to contest these championships again next year, will draw a huge amount of confidence from this campaign, which saw him record a 5-0 victory over Avona BC’s Liam Boland in the last eight, before taking a 3-2 split decision against John McDonagh from Galway in the penultimate rounds.

Up against the highly-rated Ward in the final, the Portlaoise competitor gave it his all, but was ultimately denied gold in a fight which his coach, Pat Ryan felt was closer than what the final scoreline might suggest.

“The first round was nip and tuck,” recalled Ryan. “He [Kevin] slipped in the second round, and the referee counted him as a precaution, but he only just tripped over his feet.

“He won the last round comprehensively, so if he had gotten anything out of the first or second rounds, anything could have happened.

“Kevin was superb. It's his first time ever to be in a Senior Cadet Final, so he’s had a great campaign.

“Ward is an exceptional boy. He's a fully-fledged middleweight, whereas Kevin is not. Kevin is struggling between 72kg, 73kg, and 75kg, trying to make the weight, but there's no point in bringing him down. He’s just got to push on, and he’ll be a specimen of a middleweight next year.

“We're over the moon with him. He was absolutely outstanding and he pulled out all the stops in that last round. He’s an extraordinary chap, and there’s nothing but good things to say about him as a person.

“There’s plenty for him to build on. He’ll be looking to go into the Leinster Championships now, as well as a couple of training camps.

“We’ll be sending him away then to a couple of countries, and all of that will be just part of his development and progression,” he explained.

While Pukuta was stopped one step short of the title, his clubmate, Lorcan Holohan lost out narrowly 3-2 to the eventual 63kg champion, Padraig Walsh of Immaculata BC earlier in the competition.

“Lorcan performed very well,” remarked Ryan. “He was absolutely outstanding in the second round, and he needed to stay doing that in the third, but he switched, and he went close rather than staying long. But apart from that, he was brilliant,” he said.

Jack Cahill was another of the Portlaoise contingent who performed well at these championships, recording a convincing 4-1 victory over Muskerry boxer, Jack O’Laoghaire in his opening 54kg contest before coming undone against eventual silver medallist, Conan McSorley of Two Castles in his following bout.

“That was another fight that was nip and tuck,” said Ryan. “Jack is improving nicely and he has another year at the Senior Cadets next season, so he’ll be building on this,” he added.

Completing the Portlaoise line-up in this season’s National Under 17 Championships was Fabian Berko, who also enjoyed some encouraging form, despite missing out in the 66kg division after having beaten Rubin Fitzgerald of Corinthians Boxing Club on a unanimous decision in his preliminary.

“Fabian did very well,” said Ryan “He’s probably in the wrong weight category at the moment, but he will learn from this.

“These championships were a great experience for all of them and they’ll certainly push on from here,” he insisted.