AN attack on the Defence Forces - they are, apparently, not insured to box at present - proved an embarrassment at Saturday's meeting of the IABA Central Council.

Antrim president Billy McKee claimed that Army representative Jim Hunt, a current vice-president following the recent reshuffle of the association's executive, was technically not entitled to act nor were the Defence Forces entitled to take part in the association's activities on insurance grounds.

McKee said he was especially annoyed as his county board and units had been threatened with a loss of voting rights for any neglect of insurance cover. He said his board had been made a scapegoat by the top table on this.

Evidence that the Defence Forces had complied with its IABA insurance obligations had yet to be provided. It was promised that the matter would be pursued.

Meanwhile, Harry Doherty, of Belfast's Holy Family Golden Gloves, has been replaced on the IABA Standing Committee by Tony Mahoney, of Dublin. Doherty's decision to resign was regretted by members. He had claimed the association had set out to do a job which it had not finished.

The 12 finalists in Friday's National Senior Championships will travel to Dublin with their passports. Six champions will be travelling the following day for a tour of New Zealand with matches in Timaru and Auckland.

Ireland will box Italy at the Stadium on March 28th.

The IABA is likely to be among the last associations in Europe to give the green light to women's boxing following a decision at Saturday's meeting, on an 11-6 vote to refer the matter to the association's convention next September.