Boxing legend Michaela Walsh on the “incredible” rise of Women’s Boxing

In short, the Northern Irish athlete is adamant that boxing will be Glasgow 2026’s ‘hottest ticket’ – and she is well-placed to make such a statement, having not only witnessed, but played a crucial role in the development of the women’s side of the sport. 

Female boxers had only just made their Olympic Games bow two years before Glasgow 2014 welcomed the discipline for a Commonwealth Games debut, with Walsh given the “mad, but unbelievable honour” of being drawn in the first-ever women’s contest.

It was one she won, against Mauritian Thessa Dumas with ease, en route to claiming silver later in the Games; a result she repeated at Gold Coast 2018, before finally realising her Commonweath “dream” with a gold medal-winning performance at Birmingham 2022. 

Come Glasgow 2026, she will be aiming to be part of the first Commonwealth boxing programme in history to have the same number of medal events for men and women. 

“If you’d said to me 10-15 years ago that there would be an equal number I’d have said ‘there’s not a hope in hell’ it would happen, but it really shows how much women’s boxing has grown,” says Walsh. 

“Back when I went to my first Games there were only three weight categories and I was sort of stuck in the middle (of two divisions) so I either had to drop weight or fight up (in Flyweight) and that was the decision I ultimately made. 

“Of course, I wanted the gold, but looking back that achievement (silver against legendary England and Great Britain boxer Nicola Adams) is one of the results I’m most proud of.” 

Walsh admits that the profile of women’s boxing was so low in the early days of her career that she was completely unaware of Irish legend Katie Taylor’s achievements in the ring. 

She is now “proud” to have played her own role in promoting the sport in her homeland and across the Commonwealth. 

“Sometimes you look back and think ‘I didn’t win this medal, or that’ but actually for me personally, now it’s more about the journey it took me to get here and if I helped young ones along the way, that’s incredible,” she says. 

“Back when I started, women’s boxing wasn’t in the Commonwealth Games, or Olympic Games and it was nearly alien to a lot of people. 

“Now I’m currently training in Dublin and there are Irish boys and girls together as one sport, not two separate things, if you’d have said that 15 years ago people would have laughed in your face. 

“The sport has come so far and I'm very proud to be part of that group that maybe helped grow women’s boxing and inspired young girls, as well as young boys, to show that anything is possible.” 

Walsh feels the movement will only become “bigger and bigger” over the coming years and for her that likely includes transitioning into the rapidly developing women’s professional boxing scene. 

However, that will not happen until after her aim to taking in one further Commonwealth Games; where, subject to selection, she will be looking to defend the title memorably claimed at Birmingham 2022. 

As an experience, the last edition of the Games will be difficult to top, having claimed not only the title which had eluded her at Glasgow 2014 and Gold Coast 2018, but also being able to celebrate with her brother, who claimed victory in the men’s Light Middleweight division. 

“The athlete I was in Birmingham was completely different to when I was younger because I wasn’t obsessing on the gold, I really wanted to soak up the experience as I knew moments like that, competing with my brother, were childhood dreams which wouldn’t last forever,” she recalls. 

“Maybe that mentality took the pressure off, because I felt like I produced some of the best performances of my career there and to share the moment with Aiden was just incredible as it’s one of those things to tell kids and grandkids about. 

Walsh continues; “It was also very emotional because I remember back in 2014 my grandfather was dying of cancer and I promised him I’d win the gold medal. 

“He died a few days after I got back home (following Glasgow 2014) but he got to see the (silver) medal and I know he was so proud of me. Then when I was on the podium (at Birmingham 2022 with gold) tears just came out of me because I felt his presence. 

“I was so happy for that, to finally get the gold medal I had felt I deserved in 2014 and 2018 and to do it with Aiden, which will probably never be out done,” she says with a smile. 

Walsh is though excited by the prospect of returning to the scene of her first Commonwealth Games success, in Glasgow, 12 years on from her debut. 

“It's something that I'm really looking forward to,” says the three-time Olympian. 

“I’m going in with the same approach, same mentality (as Birmingham 2022) of ‘what will be, will be’ and I'll be proud to fight to the best of my abilities. 

“I’m getting older now and I don’t think I’ve too long left in my amateur career, but it would be great having had my first Games in Glasgow, to maybe have my last there as well. 

Walsh concludes; “To do it knowing there’s now a pathway for younger girls coming through the sport, who can follow their dreams as amateurs and professionals too, would be really, really special for me.” 

By Nick Hope, Glasgow 2026 Content Creator