“Irish boxing could be in for a world of hurt”
By Stephen Leonard
KENNETH Egan insists the departure of Head Coach Billy Walsh from Irish Boxing’s High Performance Unit is a major blow to the sport in this country and that it would get a whole lot worse should the HP coaching team opt to follow in his wake.
The possibility of right-hand man Zaur Antia as well as coach Eddie Bolger heading with him to America where he is set to take up a post with USA Boxing could prove extremely detrimental to Ireland’s aspirations of a major medal haul in next year’s Olympic Games in Rio.
Walsh, frustrated by prolonged contract negotiations with the IABA over the past eight months, finally opted to resign and take up the offer to coach the US boxers.
Egan, who captured silver at light heavyweight at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, appreciates how important Walsh is to the success of Irish boxing saying, “Billy gets to know his boxers, not just for the hour that they’re on the floor training. He knows what gets you going, what relaxes you. It’s like a father and son relationship.
“Billy leaving the team is a big blow, but if he takes Zaur [Antia] and Eddie [Bolger], which he could do because I don’t think he’ll go to America on his own, then Irish boxing could be in for a whole world of hurt.
“Zaur is a brilliant coach. He’s very technical but he still has that language barrier. That’s what makes Billy and Zaur go hand in hand.
“Another thing is that Billy has built up so many international contacts and has set up so many training camps. Who’ll be there now to organise those camps.
“Zaur can get us into the likes of Russia and Kazakhstan, but Billy has so many contacts around Europe getting the team into training camps with the Germans and French” he explained.
Yet the likes of Crumlin BC Head Coach Philip Sutcliffe is not so concerned with the situation, believing that other coaches can use the hugely successful High Performance template that Walsh and co have established over the years.
“Because Billy gets a job in America, that system is still in place” said Sutcliffe. “Of course we’re going to miss Billy because he’s a good coach, but there are other good coaches. There are plenty of good coaches who could fill that spot” he insisted.
Either way, Walsh’s imminent exit is a major disappointment for Irish boxing, particularly in the wake of the country’s superb showing at the World Championships in Qatar and their preparation for Rio.
Egan who spoke with Walsh this week told The Echo “I gave him a call because I hold him as a good friend. He’s been with me through the highs and lows and right now he’s very upset.
“It would take an awful lot for Billy to walk away from the High Performance Unit, something that he’s been so involved with since 2003.
“But he’s definitely going to America. He’s given his word and it wouldn’t look good if he backed out. He’ll be over there for the US Trials because the next Olympic qualifier for them is the World Championships in February.
“We could now have a situation at the next Olympics where he could be in the opposing corner to Katie Taylor and that’s just not right.
“The Association doesn’t want any individual to have complete control, but hasn’t Billy shown that his way is the way that works.
“So why not let him get on with the job and let him pick the team and bring home the medals” asked the Clondalkin man.
