Darren O'Neill (born 13 September 1985) is an Irish

amateur boxer An amateur () is generally considered a person who pursues an avocation independent from their source of income. Amateurs and their pursuits are also described as popular, informal, self-taught, user-generated, DIY, and hobbyist. History ...

. He won a gold medal at the 2009 EU Championships, and silver at the 2010 European Championships and 2014 EU Championships. He also captained Ireland's boxers at the

2012 Summer Olympics The 2012 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad and also known as London 2012, were an international multi-sport event held from 27 July to 12 August 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. The first event, the ...

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

Boxing

O'Neill claimed all honours around him in Ireland at underage levels, as well as playing for Kilkenny U-21 hurling team. He finished second at light-heavyweight at the National Championships 2005 and 2006 behind Kenneth Egan. O'Neill has since won four national middleweight championships and two heavyweight championships where he has excelled. He lost to Darren Sutherland on a close decision in 2008. He also lost out on a chance to compete at an Olympic qualifier to Sutherland in an IABA box-off. O'Neill was also 2009 European Union champion and 2010 European silver medalist. In the 2010 European championships he defeated four opponents including medal favourite Sergey Derevyanchenko of Ukraine before losing to Artem Chebotarev of Russia in the final. He was named the captain of the Irish boxing team at the 2011 European Championships. He secured automatic Olympic qualification for the 2012 London games in the World Amateur Championships 2011. At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London he again captained the Irish boxing team, but went out in the last 16 to Stefan Härtel. He bore the flag for Ireland at the

2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony The closing ceremony of the London 2012 Summer Olympics, also known as A Symphony of British Music, was held on 12 August 2012 in the Olympic Stadium, London. The chief guest was Prince Harry representing Queen Elizabeth II. The closing cerem ...

. By 2015, he had moved up to heavyweight, reaching the Irish final. In July 2019 he announced his decision to turn professional.

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* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:ONeill, Darren Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Boxers at the 2012 Summer Olympics Irish schoolteachers Olympic boxers for Ireland Irish male boxers Boxers at the 2015 European Games European Games competitors for Ireland Middleweight boxers Boxers from County Kilkenny People from Paulstown

Boxing

See also

References

External links