A delegation of elite Irish boxers, led by renowned coach Raj Vrânceanu, is holding a 12-day training camp in the eastern Romanian city of Bacău at the invitation of local club Master Boxing.
The Irish athletes trained alongside Master Boxing fighters on Monday during an outdoor session at Athletic Park, attracting the attention of dozens of amateur and professional athletes who joined or watched the workout.
Bacău Mayor Lucian Stanciu-Viziteu, a former registered boxer and supporter of Master Boxing, also took part in the session after accepting an invitation from the club.
Several members of the Irish delegation arrived in Romania directly from Las Vegas, where they had been supporting mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor. The training camp was facilitated with the support of Trinity Contractors SRL, represented by Daniel Mihoc.
Among the visitors is Irish heavyweight Guss Idemudia, a two-time Irish national champion who has recorded victories over world medalists and European amateur champions. Idemudia said the camp had provided excellent preparation ahead of upcoming competitions in Bucharest and Germany.
Promising 23-year-old Liam „The Irish Hammer” Kiernan, who is scheduled to make his professional debut on Oct. 9, also praised the training conditions in Bacău. Eighteen-year-old Patrick Mihoc, unbeaten in Ireland, said he was pleased to return to his parents’ homeland and continue his development alongside Romanian boxers.
The Irish team is coached by Raj Vrânceanu, a five-time Romanian heavyweight champion and European bronze medalist who has lived in Ireland since the 1990s. Vrânceanu, who also serves as Conor McGregor’s boxing coach, said he was delighted to return to Bacău for a second consecutive year and confirmed that cooperation between the Irish club and Master Boxing would continue.
The joint training session also featured several Romanian combat sports champions, including WFC Under-15 world champion Dominik Dulhac and multiple MMA titleholder Richard Oghinciuc, highlighting the growing partnership between Master Boxing and the Irish boxing community.
Master Boxing officials said the exchange is part of the club’s broader strategy to promote youth participation in sport, expand international cooperation and strengthen community engagement through boxing.
