Liam Brereton says he's "really excited" about his new role of development manager with the Cayman Islands' Boxing Association.
The St Brigid's, Edenderry coach is currently in quarantine ahead of taking up his new position, with his new employers targeting qualification spots at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Brereton, whose family provided the ring for Muhammad Ali's Croke Park in 1972, will be working to upskill five young Caymanian coaches as part of their boxing programme.
The Cayman Islands’ Boxing Association say they selected the Offaly native after deeming him an "ideal fit" following a "worldwide search for a Boxing Development Manager with the experience and passion to develop CIBA into a world-class organisation".
Speaking to OTB Sports, Brereton said he's looking to bring his "passion for the sport" to the Cayman Islands and that his aim is to make boxing accessible to all in the region.
" St Brigid, Edenderry has become one of the best clubs in the world under my leadership and the female sparring camp that I've organised included women from over 27 different countries, from novice to elite world champion.
"The breadth of people that boxing can touch is something that I want to show the Cayman Islands’ community and to overcome the misconception that boxing is only for elite athletes. Boxing is a sport for all. It builds teamwork, community, and camaraderie."
The Cayman Islands’ Boxing Association (CIBA) this week announced the arrival of new Boxing Development Manager, Liam ‘Morley’ Brereton, from Ireland.@J0E_90 @willocallaghan @SeanMcGoldrick1 @mjon3105 @KevByrneBox @ChrisMcNultyDgl @EvanneNiC @griffinniamh @dngduncan @CowenBarry
— Liam Morley Brereton (@bluealgero) May 20, 2021
He'll be based at the Cayman Islands Olympic Centre in Georgetown until August of this year before travelling back and forth to Ireland to maintain the work at his home gym. Brereton says the ability to continue working with St Brigid's was key when assessing offers in recent months.
"There had been a few organisations in contact with me over the last year but I felt the timing wasn’t right to completely move away from Edenderry. But when I spoke with the CIBA, things just fell in place.
"They're a young and ambitious body, having only been formed in 2017 . The key thing for me was that they agreed to allow me to come and go between bases. I’m here now until August, before going home to get the club in Edenderry open again and then I will return to the Cayman Islands to prepare a team for Caribbean Championship in December.
"We'll then begin planning for next year's Commonwealth Games while also aiming to grow the boxing programme on the islands, especially in the schools."
The Cayman Islands' Boxing Association added that they're determined to increased participation in boxing in the coming years.
"Over the last four years our numbers have grown significantly and our staffing has expanded to include five young Caymanian coaches who will be developed and internationally certified under Liam.
"Excitingly, Brereton’s first task will be to develop and establish a programme extendable to Cayman Brac. With that in mind, CIBA will be participating in an exciting multisport event in Cayman Brac during the summer months."
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