Darren O'Neill

{{Infobox boxer

| name = Darren O'Neill

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| birth_date = {{Birth-date and age|13 September 1985}}

| birth_place = Paulstown, Kilkenny, Ireland

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| weight_class = Light-heavyweight

| weight = 75 kg

| height = 184 cm

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{{MedalCountry | {{IRL}} }}

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Darren O'Neill (born 13 September 1985) is an Irish amateur boxer.{{cite Sports-Reference |title=Darren O'Neill |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/on/darren-oneill-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203181341/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/on/darren-oneill-1.html |archive-date=3 December 2016 |quote=Born: September 13, 1985}}{{cite web |url=https://www.olympic.org/darren-oneill |title=Darren ONEILL - Olympic Boxing | Ireland |website=Olympic.org |publisher=International Olympic Committee |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005153653/https://www.olympic.org/darren-oneill |archive-date=5 October 2016 |quote=Born: 13 Sep 1985}} 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 in London.

Boxing

O'Neill claimed all honours around him in Ireland at underage levels, as well as playing for Kilkenny U-21 hurling team.{{Cite web |title=Taylor and O'Neill win gold in Turkey |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/boxing/2008/0614/233251-boxing/ |website=RTÉ Sport |access-date=27 December 2015}} He finished second at light-heavyweight at the National Championships 2005 and 2006 behind Kenneth Egan.{{Cite web |title=Egan to face O'Neill once again |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/boxing/2006/0122/200530-boxing/ |website=RTÉ Sport |access-date=27 December 2015}} 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.{{Cite web |title=National Amateur Championships round-up |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/boxing/2008/0111/226732-boxing1/ |website=RTÉ Sport |access-date=27 December 2015}} He also lost out on a chance to compete at an Olympic qualifier to Sutherland in an IABA box-off.{{Cite web |title=Sutherland reaches Olympic qualifiers |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/boxing/2008/0316/229364-boxing/ |website=RTÉ Sport |access-date=27 December 2015}} O'Neill was also 2009 European Union champion and 2010 European silver medalist.{{Cite web |title=Victories for Joyce and O'Neill |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/boxing/2009/0616/250585-ireland1/ |website=RTÉ Sport |access-date=27 December 2015}} 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.{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/boxing/2010/0612/boxing.html |title=Barnes takes gold, O'Neill settles for silver |work=RTÉ Sport |publisher=RTÉ |date=12 June 2010 |access-date=12 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100615000459/http://www.rte.ie/sport/boxing/2010/0612/boxing.html |archive-date=15 June 2010}} He was named the captain of the Irish boxing team at the 2011 European Championships.{{cite news |first=Michael |last=O'Neill |url=http://www.sportsnewsireland.com/athletics_irish/32186/ |title=Darren O'Neill captains Irish boxers |work=Sports News Ireland |date=15 June 2011 |access-date=15 June 2011 |archive-date=16 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316174834/http://www.sportsnewsireland.com/athletics_irish/32186/ |url-status=dead}} 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.{{cite news |first=Vincent |last=Hogan |url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/olympics-2012/irish-news/darren-oneills-olympic-dream-over-after-losing-to-awkward-german-3188556.html |title=Darren O'Neill's Olympic dream over after losing to 'awkward' German |newspaper=Irish Independent |publisher=Independent News & Media |date=2 August 2012 |access-date=2 August 2012}} He bore the flag for Ireland at the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony. By 2015, he had moved up to heavyweight, reaching the Irish final.{{Cite web |title=O'Neill into heavyweight final at first attempt |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/boxing/2015/0117/673513-oneill-into-heavyweight-final-at-first-attempt/ |website=RTÉ Sport |access-date=27 December 2015}}

In July 2019 he announced his decision to turn professional.{{Cite web |title=Olympian Darren O'Neill to join pro boxing ranks at 33 |url=https://www.the42.ie/darren-oneill-professional-33-4730305-Jul2019/ |website=the42.ie = 18 August 2016}}