A NUMBER of interesting points were raised following the reading of the Irish boxing manager's report on the Atlanta Olympics which, although recording no medal winners, received an ovation at Saturday's meeting of the IABA Standing Committee.
Tom Ward of the Brosna BC said that as Irish teams go, it was a weak team. This was due in his opinion to the steady flow of amateur boxers to the professional ranks. He queried why, for example, was Neil Sinclair not encouraged to stay amateur just before the Games and after winning the Commonwealth Games title. Gerry Storey responded by saying "Neil was out of work and was getting no support from anybody".
Ulster President Pat McCrory, read the team manager's report on behalf of the absent Michael Hawkins. One observation he made was that a Cuban referee officiated on the Damaen Kelly contest, at a time when the Cuban and Irish Associations are hardly friendly, on account of Dublin-based Nicholas Cruz.
At the time of the contest a Cuban boxer was still in the draw at the weight. He said that Kelly got a warning he certainly did not deserve and "we possibly lost a medal over it".
He said this was a very unsatisfactory position and identified the slip-up with the over burdened task placed on Hawkins, who was forced to act as manager as well as coach. It was pointed out that only so many officials are allowed, depending on the numerical strength of the squad.
One of Ireland's most popular boxers in Atlanta was Francie Barrett and he is due to resume his ring career in Austria next month. The Galwayman has been named in a three strong team to box in the multi-nations event in Weiner Neustadt from October 10th to 13th.
Barrett has been named with two Ulster champions, Adrian Patterson and Stephen Kirk for the event.
President Nick White was concerned with, "the way the media got it very wrong when asserting that we had made a decision to oppose outgoing president Pat Hickey in the upcoming OCI elections".
"We made no decision to oppose Pat Hickey or anybody else," said White, who also took exception to what he called "lecturing" from Welsh officials. Thee Welsh ABA have warned the IABA about breakaway clubs in Wales who may request competition against Irish clubs and that they should not be accommodated
A list of the breakaway clubs is to be requested by the IABA. McCrory said that Scotland's ABA are in a similar boat.
A unique international tour in New Zealand is in the offing following an invitation - yet to be finalised - for next March. An international in Auckland or Timaru is mooted for St Patrick's Day.
A five-man team has been named to take part in a multi-nations event in Novi Sad on September 26th. The team is: Charlie Nash (Ring Derry), Pat Walsh (St Comans), Daren Conlon (Loughglynn), Alo Kelly (Brosna) and Aodh Carlyle (Sacred Heart).
