The are 291 days to go until the boxing competition begins at the Rio Olympic Games. Ireland's preparations were dealt a major blow yesterday when Billy Walsh resigned as the head coach of the IABA High Performance Unit.
London Olympians and European Championship medalists Paddy Barnes and Darren O'Neill spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning about Walsh's contribution to Irish boxing.
Barnes, who has won Olympic bronze medals in Beijing and London said Walsh's resignation is "a big loss to Irish boxing". The Belfast fighter told Newstalk Breakfast how he and Walsh originally "didnt get along" but the built their relationship into a successful one. Barnes wants to see Walsh's assistant Zaur Antia stay with the High Performance Unit.
O'Neill comes from Walsh's home county of Kilkenny and has worked with the former High Performance Coach since the unit was set up in Dublin. "He changed the whole culture of Irish boxing. I think he will be a massive loss", O'Neill to Chis Donoghue.
Both fighters want to see a quick resolution to the situation with Walsh's replacement named soon. Neither fighter expects Walsh to return to his former job. "He really wants to stay, judging by his text messages", Barnes stated.
Barnes wants the IABA to "appoint a new head coach. Put a plan in place for the boxers trying to qualify (for the Olympics) in April". He added he wanted to see Walsh's successor come from in house.
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