IABA is considering holding an event to mark the opening day of boxing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Team Ireland Boxing Team is the largest since Rome 1960, and Team Ireland is one of only 3 countries in the world to have qualified a full squad of women’s weights.
To celebrate that achievement, if there is demand from members, we wish to hold a watch-party of both sessions of Olympic Boxing on Saturday, July 27th at the National Stadium. In consideration of the fact that this date coincides with a planned day of boxing in the 2024 National U2 Championship, Central Council’s Competition Committee has affirmed its collaborative support of this event and that boxing in these championships will not take place on that day. Dependent upon entries, boxing in these championships is scheduled: July 12th 13th 14th /19th 20th 21st / 26th 27th 28th
If members are interested in IABA holding a watch party, we also wish to hold workshops before boxing and during the break between sessions, which will be open to all members of successfully affiliated clubs. These workshops, dependent upon demand from members, may include Anti-Doping, a Coaching Teenage Girls workshop, a Women/Girls S&C workshop and Basic First Aid/ Athlete Injury
If you or any member of you club would be interested in attending events on July 27th, please let us know here by 5pm on Sunday, July 7th: https://shout.com/s/GPuoe6hB
The released schedule shows that W54kg, W60kg and M63.5kg are down to box in both sessions on July 27th, and, dependent upon the draw, that means Jennifer Lehane, Kellie Harrington and Dean Clancy may all box on that day.
102 boxers will contest the 2024 National U22 Championships. The draw for this tournament will take place on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 9th.
Boxing will begin on Friday, July 12th.
Clubs are asked to review the entry lists and communicate any required amendments to Sally Ann Kinch, sally@iaba.ie, by 5pm on Monday, July 8th.
The National Registrar, Philip Rooney, has advised that pro-wraps may be worn.
Please be advised that medical exams will take place, as usual, at the point of the boxer’s first weigh-in on their first day of competition and not on Tuesday July 9th, as previously advised.
The Selection Policy for 2024 European U22 Championship has been shared with all boxers on whose behalf an entry to the applicable National Championships was submitted, and is available here
We’re celebrating Irish boxing’s Olympic centenary by revisiting every single #TeamIreland boxing team since Paris 1924.
Now, we revisit LA 1932, and the third successive Games at which Ireland came within a hair’s breadth of our first Olympic medal.
117 events in 20 disciplines, comprising 14 sports, were part of the Olympic program in 1932. In one of two Equestrian jumping events (team competitions) no medals were awarded.
Boxing took place at the Grand Olympic Auditorium, a venue steeping in the sweet science. Its grand opening, on August 5, 1925, and was a major media event, attended by non other than Jack Dempsey. It was also a filming location for iconic boxing films such as The Champ, Raging Bull, Rocky, Rocky II and Rocky III.
Paddy Hughes was the first into the ring in LA, but he was beaten by Argentina’s Carlos Alberto Pereyra in the bantamweight class, while Ernie Smith received a bye into the quarter-finals where he dropped a points decision to Argentina’s Carmelo Robledo, who went on to claim gold after beating Germany’s Josef Schleinkofer in the featherweight final.
Four years prior to the LA Games, Robledo was beaten by Ireland’s Frank Traynor in the quarter-finals at the Amsterdam Olympics. Welterweight Larry Flood also lost out in southern California, while Jim Murphy, boxing in the light-heavyweight class, was the only Irish boxer to record a victory.
Murphy, who received a bye into the last-eight, beat John Miller of the USA in the quarter-finals, but was then retired injured in the first round of his semi-final with Italy’s Gino Rossi – who lost to David Carstens (South Africa) in the final. The injury also forced Murphy to withdraw from the box-off for bronze with Denmark’s Peter Jorgensen.
85 boxers from 18 nations competed across eight weight categories at the 1932 Games between August 9th to 13th of that year. Argentina stunned the world of amateur boxing after securing two gold and one silver medal to finish on top of the medals table ahead of the USA at the Olympic Auditorium venue.
The ref was inside the ring for the 1932 Games, as opposed to sitting on a high stool outside the square circle, and in a new innovation boxers wore red and green ribbons around their waist. American heavyweight Jack Dempsey, who was of partial Irish descent, was one of the celebrities that attended the X Olympiad.
Ireland claimed two gold medals in LA, with Pat O’Callaghan winning his second gold in-a-row in the hammer throw and Bob Tisdall finishing on top of the podium in the 400m hurdles in a world record time of 51.7. However, the record was not recognised under the rules as Tisdall clipped a hurdle en route to victory.
The 1932 Games marked the last occasion that an Irish athlete competed at the Olympics before WW2 as Ireland did not enter the 1936 Games in Berlin. A number of publications, particularly in the USA, have reported that Ireland boycotted the 1936 Olympiad.
Team Ireland, LA 1932
Paddy Hughes, Bantamweight, Men, who achieved a 9th placed finish.
Ernie Smith, Featherweight, Men, who achieved a 5th place finish
Larry Flood, Welterweight, Men, who achieved a 9th placed finish.
Jim Murphy, Light-Heavyweight, Men, who achieved a 4th placed finish.
Jim Murphy became the third Team Ireland boxer in as many games to finish 4th, and come home without a medal. Until the 1948 Games, losing semi-finalists boxed for bronze.
The 1932 Olympic Games were held in the middle of the Great Depression and, given the transport links of the time, in the relatively remote region of California. Consequently, participation in the Games was the lowest since 1904, with only half as many athletes taking part as had in 1928.
The Selection Policy for 2024 European U22 Championship has been shared with all boxers on whose behalf an entry to the applicable National Championships was submitted.
Boxers who wish to be considered for selection for 2024 European U22 Championship must complete the Athlete Nomination Declaration, contained at Schedule 1 of the policy, and return to High Performance Director, Tricia Heberle trish@iaba.ie by 6pm on Friday, July 12th. Late submission will not be accepted.
Any coach or boxer with queries on the policy is invited to make contact with HPD Tricia Heberle via trish@iaba.ie
Notes
Club coaches and administrators should note that they may receive several copies of this email. This is as the club may have submitted several boxers to this competition and/or may have included the club’s email address in place of the boxer’s email address. Email addresses for all entrants was a required part of the entry process.
Where a club or club administrator did not include the boxer’s email address during the entry process, it is the responsibility of the club or club administrator to ensure their boxer can access this information.
IABA is recruiting an Ulster Operations Manager on a maternity cover contract. This is a high responsibility role, working in collaboration with Ulster Boxing Council and the County Antrim Board, with the strategic focus on improving and developing boxing within Ulster.
Job Purpose: The post-holder will oversee all operations of the IABA Ulster Branch, with the strategic focus on improving and developing boxing within Ulster. The role will work closely with the Ulster Boxing Council and the County Antrim Board, whilst reporting to the IABA. The post will be responsible for the implementation of the IABA Strategic Plan and the Ulster Boxing Council’s Strategy, while also continuing to deliver recommendations of the report of the Independent Working Group Examining Boxing in Ulster. The post will be responsible for all financial, staff and governance management within the Branch and provide governance support to the IABA. The post-holder will seek a variety of funding and other sponsorship and revenue sources to support and increase service development within Ulster. The IABA is seeking an experienced manager to lead the IABA Ulster Branch operations. The person will be highly organised with the ability to multi-task and manage their time in a highly efficient manner. You will also have a high level of verbal, written and inter-personal communication skills. You will have experience in managing people, resources, budgets and have experience in organising and administering good governance practices. This post is a maternity cover contract until up to 31st July 2025, with the possibility of extension, subject to continuation of funding.
Applications
To apply please send your CV and a Cover Letter to HR@iaba.ie. Closing date Wednesday 17th July at 8pm. The IABA is an Equal Opportunities employer.
