Over-the-counter puncher produces a stunning combination

THE GENERATION GAME:IT'S HARD to associate Mick Dowling with any sport other than boxing. Dowling won the first of a record eight successive national titles in 1968, all at bantamweight, and represented Ireland at two Olympics: 1968, in Mexico, and 1972, in Munich.

In 1968 he came desperately close to winning an Olympic medal, losing his quarter-final and ending up equal fifth, but quickly made amends when winning European bronze in 1969 and again in 1971.

Today he's still well known as RTÉ's boxing pundit - and proprietor of the Mick Dowling Sports Shop in Terenure.

When it comes to the family, however, boxing has so far taken a back seat to several other sports.

His wife, Emily Dowling, was a champion distance runner, winning the Dublin marathon in 1981, twice representing Ireland at the World Cross Country, and also enjoying much success as a veteran runner.

Their first child, Lisa, followed in her mother's footsteps, and took to distance running, later winning a scholarship to East Tennessee University. Recently married, she is now a qualified fitness instructor and personal trainer, and clearly remains highly active.

Their second child, Julie, wasn't quite as enthusiastic about sport, but family holidays to the training resort at La Santa in Lanzarote soon developed her interest in fitness, and she too still runs mostly for fun.

Their third child and first boy, Mark, also got into sport while on holiday in La Santa, but one discipline wasn't enough - and he's now one of Ireland's most exciting prospects in the triathlon. At 21 he was recently named on the International Carding Scheme, and also on the Irish triathlon development panel for the 2012 Olympics in London.

He's also gone full-time, largely funded by his parents, in order to pursue that dream.

He's already competed at World and European level, and last summer finished a close fourth in the Irish championships at Lough Neagh.

"I'm very excited for Mark," says Dowling. "It's an incredibly tough sport, and he trains between 28 and 30 hours a week. That includes a few hours in the pool, long runs on the road, and four or five hour cycles in the Dublin mountains. He's done really well so far, and it can be an expensive sport, but of course I'm happy to support him for as long as he needs it."

So to their last and youngest child, Stephen, who enjoyed sport as a youngster, and played a bit of club hurling, but never seemed destined to take it too seriously. And while Dowling wouldn't like to admit it, there was some regret that none of them followed him into boxing.

That all changed two summers ago, when Stephen showed his first inkling towards boxing. Dowling had a punch bag set up in the garden, and one day Stephen just starting hitting it. Wham!

"Myself and Emily were watching from the kitchen," he recalls. "And I told her 'look at that - he can hit!'

"Stephen didn't know we were watching him but straight away I could see some talent. I mean he was hitting that bag very hard."

It was Emily who ultimately convinced him to take their son to the local club, Mount Tallant in Drimnagh, and in the last 12 months he's started to box a lot more seriously.

"She felt it would at least get him more active," he explains. "But I have to admit I was a little reticent. I knew how hard and how tough a sport it could be, and I didn't particularly want to push him into it.

"But he was excited by it, and really sees it as a fun sport. He's a little whippet of a lad, and boxes at light flyweight.

"He's a smart, clever boxer, a southpaw, and a different kind of boxer to me. He's more slick and sneaky, and has great power in his right hand."

Father and son still have a lot in common. Dowling fought at 8st 7lbs, and Stephen weighs in at 8st even. Inevitably, Dowling also provides much of the coaching, helped out at the club by Tommy Ennis, himself a former international boxer.

At age 16, Stephen still has other interests, not least his studies at the High School in Rathgar, but just last Wednesday, he had his first competitive bout, organised by the Mount Tallant club.

Naturally, Dowling now has high hopes for his son, but he's careful not to add to the expectation.

"It's funny that some people down in the club are already calling him the son of Mick Dowling, and think therefore he must be good.

"Like any parent, I would be delighted to see him have some success, and I would encourage him as much as possible.

"And like we're doing for Mark, support him in whatever way we can.

"I'd like to think we'll give him every chance, but not push him either. Of course I'd love to see him wear the green vest, and if that happens it's something I'll be very proud of. But I'm already very proud of the way he's taken to the sport.

"There's also something of a tradition in boxing that the sons turn out to be a better fighter that the father. Like Brendan and Bernard Dunne. We'll have to wait and see about that."