Today marks the 30th anniversary of Michael Carruth’s bronze medal win at the 1989 AIBA World Elite Championships in Moscow.
Three decades after the Irish women’s team – who arrived in Russia yesterday for the World Women’s Elites which begin in Siberia next Thursday – Carruth became the second Irish boxer after Tommy Corr to medal at this level.
Boxing at light-welter, the Dubliner beat Khaliu Rahilov of France and Kipper Kelp of the USA en route to the semi-finals where he lost to eventual silver medallist Andreas Otto of East Germany for a place in the 64kg final.
Three years later, the Drimnagh BC southpaw beat Otto, who was then representing a unified Germany following the fall of the Berlin Wall, in the last eight en route to gold at Barcelona 1992.
“I can’t believe that on the 28th of September it will be 30 years since I won that bronze medal. What a team I had with me,” Carruth told Irish Boxing Legends.
Carruth, Roy Nash, Joe Lowe, Joe Lawlor and current American head coach Billy Walsh, who is also in Siberia this week for the World Women’s Elites, represented Ireland at Moscow 1989 which was the first major tournament to use the computer scoring system.
Former IABA President Brendan O Conaire, Mickey Hawkins and Tommy Kelleher worked Ireland’s corner.
A few weeks after Carruth won bronze, the Republic of Ireland beat Malta 2-0 to qualify for the World Cup for the first time at Italia 90. Tipperary won the All-Ireland hurling title and Cork the All-Ireland football Championships.
Overall, Irish male and female boxing have won 21 World Elite medals at the World Elites.
Katie Taylor secured our first gold in 2006 in India and it took ten years for the world to figure out how to loosen her grip on the 60kg title as the Bray lightweight went on to add another four gold medals and a bronze to her collection.
Michael Conlan claimed Ireland’s first male title on the Persian Gulf in 2015 and ended up being hailed as “Michael of Arabia” by one Irish newspaper and Kellie Harrington brought the lightweight belt back to Ireland from New Delhi last year.
Irish female boxing is lying in 7th position in the all-time Worlds table with 8 medals – 6 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze.
Irish male boxing occupies joint 23rd position with Poland in the all-time pecking order with 13 medals – 1 gold, 3 silver, 9 bronze.
Taylor (6), Harrington (2), Joe Ward (3) and John Joe Nevin (2) have medalled more than once at the World Elites.
Meanwhile, Ceire Smith, Michaela Walsh, Amy Broadhurst and Christina Desmond will be aiming to increase Ireland’s haul in Ulan-Ude, Siberia.
The squad arrived in Siberia yesterday following their training camp at the German Olympic Centre in Kienbaum and are putting the finishing touches to their preparations ahead of next Wednesday draw at the 11th edition of the tournament.
It’s expected that 67 nations will go into the hat for the draw.
(Images: Michael Carruth celebrates winning Olympic gold. Michael Carruth with Kellie Harrington, Eric Donovan and Mick Dowling and Irish team and a Siberian welcoming committee yesterday)
IRELAND AT WORLD ELITE MEN’S AND WOMEN’S ELITES CHAMPIONSHIPS
1982 West Germany
71kg Tommy Corr Bronze
1989 Russia
64kg Michael Carruth Bronze
1993 Finland
51kg Damaen Kelly Bronze
1997 Hungary
81kg Stephen Kirk Bronze
2001 Belfast
69kg James Moore Bronze
2006 India
60kg Katie Taylor Gold
2008 China
60kg Katie Taylor Gold
2009 Italy
54kg John Joe Nevin Bronze
2012 Barbados
60kg Katie Taylor Gold
2011 Azerbaijan
56kg John Joe Nevin Bronze
2012 China
60kg Katie Taylor Gold
2013 Kazakhstan
75kg Jason Quigley Silver
81kg Joe Ward Bronze
2014 South Korea
60kg Katie Taylor Gold
2015 Qatar
56kg Michael Conlan Gold
81kg Joe Ward Silver
75kg Michael O’Reilly Bronze
2016 Kazakhstan
64kg Kellie Harrington Silver
60kg Katie Taylor Bronze
2017 Germany
81kg Joe Ward Silver
2018 India
60kg Kellie Harrington Gold