Boxing is one of the hardest and most popular sports and Ireland has produced many fine world class boxers. Gary Keegan the Irish Amateur Boxing Associations High performance manager was kind enough to give us some of his time during a very busy preparation period for the forthcoming World Senior Championships ,which are based in China during November
coachingIreland.com: What is the history / record of Irish boxers at international level?
Gary Keegan: As you may already be aware Boxing still remains the most successful Olympic sport by way of medal achievements in Ireland. (see irish boxers results tables below, impressive CI) Most of our success was achieved prior to the now very difficult qualifying process. Europe is the strongest boxing Continent in the World and as a result the most difficult to qualify boxers out of. THe break up of Russia into a number of different countries has also increased the competition at world level.
|
Name of Boxer |
Weight |
Championship |
Year |
Venue |
Medal |
|
John McNally |
Bantam |
Olympics |
1952 |
Helsinki |
Silver |
|
Fred Tiedt |
Welter |
Olympics |
1956 |
Melbourne |
Silver |
|
Tony Byrne |
Light |
Olympics |
1956 |
Melbourne |
Bronze |
|
Fred Gilroy |
Bantam |
Olympics |
1956 |
Melbourne |
Bronze |
|
John Caldwell |
Fly |
Olympics |
1956 |
Melbourne |
Bronze |
|
Jim McCourt |
Light |
Olympics |
1964 |
Tokyo |
Bronze |
|
Hugh Russell |
Fly |
Olympics |
1980 |
Moscow |
Bronze |
|
Michael Carruth |
Welter |
Olympics |
1992 |
Barcelona |
Gold |
|
Wayne McCullough |
Bantam |
Olympics |
1992 |
Barcelona |
Silver |
|
Name of Boxer |
Wt. |
Championship |
Year |
Venue |
Medal |
|
Eamonn Loughran |
|
World Junior |
1987 |
Havana |
Silver |
|
Denis Galvin |
|
World Junior |
1987 |
Havana |
Bronze |
|
Eamonn Magee |
|
World Junior |
1989 |
San Juan |
Silver |
|
Neil Sinclair |
|
World Junior |
1992 |
Montreal |
Bronze |
|
Harry Cunningham |
|
World Junior |
1998 |
Buenos
Aires |
Silver |
|
Darren Campbell |
|
World Junior |
1998 |
Buenos
Aires |
Bronze |
|
Coleman Barrett |
|
World Junior |
2000 |
Budapest |
Bronze |
|
Andrew Lee |
|
World Junior |
2002 |
Havana |
Silver |
|
Name of Boxer |
Wt. |
Championship |
Year |
Venue |
Medal |
|
Hugh Holmes |
|
European Junior |
1978 |
Dublin |
Silver |
|
John Thompson |
|
European Junior |
1978 |
Dublin |
Bronze |
|
Barry McGuigan |
|
European Junior |
1980 |
Rimini |
Bronze |
|
Martin Brereton |
|
European Junior |
1980 |
Rimini |
Bronze |
|
John Lowey |
|
European Junior |
1984 |
Tampere |
Bronze |
|
Frankie Slane |
|
European Junior |
1992 |
Edinburgh |
Bronze |
|
Glen Stephens |
|
European Junior |
1992 |
Edinburgh |
Bronze |
|
Marvin Lee |
|
European Junior |
1997 |
Birmingham |
Bronze |
CI: Have some of the rules of boxing have changed in the last few years What challenges / demands have these changes put on achieving success?
GK: No real rule changes of any significance, however, the RSCO rule whereby a bout will be stopped by the computer automatically if your opponent takes a 20 point lead in the first three rounds has been surrounded by controversy in the last few years, particularly in Europe. A little over 50% of the bouts in the European Junior Championships were stopped by RSCO (Referee Stopped Contest Outscored) During the qualifying process for the Athens Olympic games a very high proportion of the bouts were decided by RSCO.
Nobody can really argue with a rule that has been put in place to protect the health of a boxer but it is important to note that Referee, Doctors, Coaches or Boxers can call a halt to a bout at any time during the bout. The reason for the large number of RSCO decisions is not, many would argue, because boxers are been outclassed or outscored but rather because of the Judges evaluation criterion, which on one hand will caution a judge for being anywhere below the finishing score of the bout and reward another judge for being as much as 250% above the finishing score of the bout.
Human nature being what it is, Judges are scoring high to stay on the safe side of the criteria. At a recent European Coaching Commission held in Liverpool, I presented a submission that recommending the abolishment of the RSCO rule and a complete review of the Judges Monitoring and Evaluation Process. A key recommendation was to allow only a 30% margin of error either side of the finishing score of the bout.
CI: How many training hours per week , type of sessions etc do the boxers on the The current High performance programme train?
GK: The IABA High Performance Programme is arguably the busiest in the Country. We have in place a Developing Training and Performance Pathway for our Cadet (Youth) Juniors (U19’s) and Pre-Elite (Senior Dev.) and World Class. This year we sent teams to represent Ireland in five European Championships and after the Senior World Championships in China we will have attended three World Championships with our teams this year.
We have a small number of senior boxers training with us full time and this would consist of two sessions per day from Tuesday through to Saturday with rest and recovery day Friday and complete rest Sunday, recovery run on Monday. All our other squads would be with us every Saturday. During busier periods we are in the fortunate position to being able to use Drimnagh Boxing Club as a second HP training venue.
CI: Who are the coaching team for high performance and what are there roles?
GK: Billy Walsh is our High Performance Programme Head Coach from Wexford and he has overall responsibility for all training and preparation of all the squads we have responsibility for. Billy is ably assisted by Zauri Antia from Georgia. Both men have formed a very good working relationship and understanding of each others coaching styles which has produced a dynamic that works very well for our boxers.
We recently lost Cathal O’Grady who was responsible for our Cadet programme. Cathal has chosen a new career and we wish him the very best in his endeavours. The vacant position will be advertised in the near future so keep you eyes peeled. The programme simply could not fulfil such a busy remit without the support of all the many coaches who have assisted us in running the squad training and help us meet the busy competition programme we run.
CI: How many boxers are on the programme?
GK: We have up to forty boxers on the programme from Cadet through to Senior?
CI: How do boxers get onto the programme, and what qualities are you looking for?
GK: We generally select our boxers through observing the National Championships. We don’t restrict selection onto the programme to Champions alone. We have a number of boxers who finish somewhere around the top four in the Nationals.
More often we find ourselves more interested in the qualities the boxer has outside the ring. Qualities such as commitment, dedication, self discipline, respect for others, open to change and good quality of lifestyle. We of course are looking at technical and tactical ability, physical and mental strengths. More often we have found the boxers who score high in the qualities we look for outside the ring go on to be more successful on the International Stage.
ci: What are the the benefits to the boxers of being on the programme?
GK: The boxers receive a world class standard of coaching and preparation. The boxers on the programme have access to our support network which includes Physiotherapy, Psychology, Nutrition, Strength & Conditioning and Medical.
The benefit of sparring with the best boxers from all over the country and for the boxers who have impressed enough to be selected for major events get an opportunity to participate in International training camps with Nations such as Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany. The most important benefit is being part of a structured training and competition programme, which aims to meet the individual needs of the boxer.
ci: What are the boxers ie how they stay on the programme?
GK: The boxers responsibilities are detailed on our High Performance Programme Policy which is with Central Council and awaiting their approval. However, in simple terms a minimum requirement for all our boxers is to meet their training commitment and be seen to be improving and developing on the programme they also would be expected to meet training and performance targets set.
ci: Where do the provinces and local clubs fit into the system?
GK: All of four provinces are represented on the programme to varying degrees.
ci: Where do you see boxing in five ten year’s time?
GK: We would want to see our programme strengthened by educational and career opportunities for our boxers. We would have a target of consistent medal performances at every category on the World Stage.
We would see a future where the National High Performance Programme was a central hub underpinned by High Performance Regional Centres strategically placed in the four Provinces, Dublin and Belfast. The appointment of a National Coaching Development Manager to oversee the development of the Regional Centres and Coach Education.
ci: Where do you see changes or improvements/ in coaching in your sport for the future?
GK: We see the vision outlined above as crucial to ensure development needs are been met both for our boxers and coaches.
We see the National Coaching Development Manager appointment being crucial to improving the standards of coaching by developing the syllabus for Level 2 and Level 3 Coaching Courses, which would be delivered from a regional base at each of the six High Performance Satellite Centres.
End of Q-A session thanks again Gary for a very clear insight into the excellent work being carried out to keep Irelands name at the top of international results. and best wishes to the team for the World championships in China.
