BELFAST BOXER AIDAN Walsh is one win away from a medal at the 2020 Olympic Games, having advanced to the quarter-finals of the welterweight division.
Walsh was dominant throughout his Olympic bow in Tokyo, producing a stunning, and clinical, win over Cameroon’s Albert Mengue Ayissi.
The 24-year-old prevailed on a unanimous decision at the iconic Ryōgoku Kokugikan Sumo Stadium, for a welcome change of fortunes for the Irish boxing team.
His older sister, Michaela, is among those who lost their openers, suffering defeat in her last-16 featherweight clash yesterday. She was present this morning with the tricolour to roar her brother on, the pair having made history as they became the first brother and sister to box at the same Olympics.
Described as “world-class” and a “thoroughbred athlete” by Team Ireland’s boxing performance director and former world champion, Bernard Dunne, in the lead-up to the Games, Aidan’s journey is one to monitor closely over the coming days.
He now faces Mervin Clair on Friday, the Mauritian having just beaten fourth seed Zeyad Eshaish.
“It’s brilliant,” Monkstown ABC fighter Walsh, a silver medallist at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, told RTÉ afterwards. “It’s amazing to get the journey underway.
“I just take each fight as it comes from now. It doesn’t matter if it’s an Olympic final, an All-Ireland final or an Antrim title, every fight is as important to me as them all. It’s about listening to the coaches and the right tactics, getting in there an implementing them.
“The coaches got it right. I just do as they tell me and that’s it.”
On his sister, Michaela, a vocal supporter, he added: “It’s amazing that she’s here. I love when she’s at my fights. She’s actually calmed down a wee bit, I think people have told her off in my last two fights!
“It’s great support. Obviously I’m disappointed, as we all are for every boxer who loses out here. We’re all one team, we’re all just here to win and it’s sad when it doesn’t go our way. We’ll come back, regroup and go again.”
"The coaches will have a plan, so I'll just listen to them and go out and do it all again..." - Belfast boxer Aidan Walsh looks forward to his quarter-final at the Olympics following his facile victory. pic.twitter.com/AV4x17qDnf
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 27, 2021
Still be good enough to play.
Session 1: Brief introduction, go through the plan for the year and then…..tips on how to bend the ball over from the sideline 45 yards out!
Legend. I’m a Dubs fan but that was a kick from the heavens. Could only applaud!
And I a Cork man! Was unreal.
Fitzmaurice failed the test as Kerry manager Donegal won all Ireland for them few years ago by beating dubs in semi final ?
Ha ha….”won it FOR them”?!! Haven’t heard that one before Noel!