THE IRISH AMATEUR Boxing Association (IABA) say they are “very confident” that the future of Irish boxing head coach Billy Walsh will be resolved soon.
Walsh, who is currently in Doha with Ireland’s boxers at the World Championships, has faced an uncertain period of late.
The acclaimed coach has yet to sign a new contract with the IABA and has been heavily linked with a role as head of the USA’s women’s boxing programme.
However, speaking to The42, IABA President Pat Ryan suggested that talks are progressing.
“It’s still in the negotiating room, but I’m very confident that the Irish Sports Council and the Irish Amateur Boxing Association will resolve this matter,” he said. “I’ve every confidence that this matter will be resolved in the not-too-distant future.”
Walsh has helped the Irish team to more success in recent days, with Michael Conlan becoming the first Irishman to win gold at the World Championships yesterday.
“Michael Conlan has been a tremendous performer for Ireland over the last couple of years, and yet he’s only 23 years of age,” Ryan added. “His performances in the WSB have been crucial to his development. The fact that he can fight and box at that level really ensured him success in this Championship.
“You couldn’t keep that opponent away from you. So he had to mix like with like, and he was very good at it. The fact that he took a cracking right hand — to climb off the canvas is also a testament to the boy, just how good he is and his resolve.
“It’s been the best World Championship performance from any Irish team and to make history along the way is nice.”
Its thanks to Billy that our amateur boxing team setup and training regime is the envy of all. No wonder the US want to poach him. Without Billy we would not have had that medal haul in London 2012, and without Billy we wont be able to match it in Rio. Its not the IABA that success lies with, its Billy and his team. They’d be fools to not give him everything he wants and anything he needs to keep that success going.
The fact that our boxers stay amateur thanks to healthy funding of 40k and coaches etc all paid for helps. While boxers in other countries are forced into professional ranks in order to go into a full time set up. Here Boxers are afraid to leave the handy number in the amateur ranks, It is ridiculous that the public fawning all over a few bronze medals(third/fourth place) in a second tier competition while Andy Lee winning a proper world title goes nearly unnoticed.
Give him what he wants!! The boxers are consistently winning medals! No brainer here
what Danny said
Resolved soon.. What a joke they should ask Billy to name his price..
Excellent trainer, really good guy too.
Deserves as much as what Martin o neill/ keano etc getting. And I’ll bet what he’s asking is reasonable, his back room team as well. Smarten up IBBA.
If the Web summit is anything to go by Billy will be leaving soon.
It’s just madness that we cannot just secure this man! We have the best track record in amateur boxing in the world per capita, yet the boxing always struggles with funding! But we pump money into the athletics, for what?? So we can get to a few semi finals! Doesn’t make sense at all!
wat time is joe ward for ghtin