Cork boxing will roll out the red carpet for the first IABA Annual Convention to be hosted on Leeside this weekend.

The Convention begins Sunday at 11am at the Commons Inn in Blackpool and will be formally opened by the Lord Mayor, Cllr. Mick Finn.

In conjunction with the Convention, it promises to be a very busy weekend for boxing aficionados in the Southern Capital.

Proceedings begin on Saturday at 12 noon with a Boxing Breakfast which will be attended by IABA President and CEO, Dominic O’Rourke and Fergal Carruth and members of the IABA Officer Board, Secretary Art O’Brien, Registrar Stephen Connolly, Treasurer Larry Morrison, the IABA Central Council and the Munster Council.

The keynote speaker will be Micheál Martin, leader of the Fianna Fail Party and a great supporter of Ireland’s most successful Olympic sport.

Martin, a son of Cork boxing legend Paddy “The Champ” Martin, is expected to recall many incidents from his father’s sporting career in addition to sharing his views on the sport today in modern Ireland.

Following the Boxing Breakfast, the entourage will visit Bishop Lucey Park at 3pm where Dominic O’Rourke will unveil a plaque to Cork’s young athletes who, for the last 25 years, have brought honour to the city, courtesy of winning World and European medals.

This illustrious group of ten athletes includes Pa Walsh, Tommy Kiely, Oliver McCarthy (twice), Christina Desmond, Eamer Coughlan, Steve Cairns, Martin McDonagh, Callum Walsh, Katie O’Keeffe and Michael Faulkner.

The plaque will be positioned on the iconic Cork Boxing Hall of Fame Wall which also includes plaques to many Cork greats from the past, including World champion Jack McAuliffe and British titlist Mick Leahy, who famously beat Sugar Ray Robinson, in addition to the Roll of Honour to Cork’s Olympic boxers.

At 4.30pm, the Lord Mayor will host a reception at City Hall where the IABA President and CEO and Officer Board will receive a Civic Reception and sign the visitors book as they enjoy the hospitality of Cork’s 1st citizen.

This will be followed by an event at the Glen BC at 6pm. The Convention is also being hosted within the Blackpool area which is the homestead of the 102-year old unit.

“This will be the most prestigious groups assembled at any one time in over 100 years of Cork boxing, said Michael O’Brien, President of the Cork Board.

“Cork is very much looking forward to hosting the IABA Annual Convention on Leeside for the first time and all will enjoy the best of Leeside hospitality.”

(Images, Michael O’Brien with Dominic O’Rourke and Cork Boxing Wall)

 

The Boys and Girls in Green can’t wait to get into the ring at the European Junior Championships in Anapa, Russia, according to Irish Team Manager Anna Moore.

Team Ireland finished their final training session at the Lough Lannagh Centre in Mayo this morning and fly out to Russia on Sunday morning via Dublin Airport.

Irish boxing, which has won 23 medals in World and European competition this year, has named a 26-strong squad for the tournament.

“The squad have been given it 130% in training here this week and the facilities in Lough Lannagh are absolutely fantastic for athletes,” said Moore who is Irish team manager along with Joe Hennigan.

“I have never seen a more dedicated Irish squad. They’re exceptional and Dominic O’Rourke couldn’t have picked two better captains in Jason Myers and Leanne Murphy. They’ve been motivating the squad all week.

“The squad have worked tremendously hard and they can’t wait to get in the ring in Anapa.”

Team Ireland is predominately comprised of current National Senior Cadet champions.

Billy McClean, Eve Carr, Liam Cunningham, James Doyle, Brian Barry and  Martin Donovan will be working Ireland’s corner in Anapa.

Click here for further details of the European Junior Men’s and Women’s Championships.

(Images, courtesy of Anna Moore, of Irish squad training this morning)

Irish amateur boxing is proudly sponsored by Liffey Crane

Leitrim featherweight Dearbhla Rooney, pictured, will be interviewed on RTE Nuacht this afternoon in the build up to the Olympic Youth Games which begin in Buenos Aires, Argentina this weekend.

Rooney, Lauren Kelly and Dean Clancy will represent Irish boxing at the Games under Irish coach Dmitry Dimitruk.

Boxing begins on October 14 in the Argentinian capital.

Most of the Irish squad leave for Argentina today for the multi-sport event. The boxers depart on October 9.

Irish boxing has won one gold (Ryan Burnett) and silver and bronze (Ciara Ginty and Michael Gallagher) at the last two Youth Olympics in 2010 and 2014.

Current European Elite champion Joe Ward, the only Irish boxer to represent his country at the Youth Olympics (2010) and the Olympics (2016), wished Team Ireland the best of luck in Buenos Aires.

Ireland’s 16-strong squad will compete in 9 sports at the third edition of the Games.

TEAM IRELAND YOUTH OLYMPIC BUENOS AIRES 2018

Athletics

Miriam Daly (400m Hurdles), Sophie Meredith (Long Jump), Miranda Tcheutchoua (Hammer)

Badminton

Nhat Nguyen (Men’s Singles)

Boxing

Dean Clancy (Men’s Flyweight), Lauren Kelly (Middleweight), Dearbhla Rooney (Featherweight)

Diving

Tanya Watson (10m Platform)

Karate

Sean McCarthy Crean (+68kg)

Golf

Lauren Crowley Walsh (Women’s Individual, Mixed Team), David Kitt (Men’s Individual, Mixed Team)

Gymnastics

Emma Slevin (Women’s Artistic Programme)

Swimming

Niamh Coyne (50, 100, 200 breaststroke), Mona McSharry (50, 100, 200 breaststroke, 50 freestyle), Robert Powell (50, 100 freestyle, 50 butterfly)

Tennis

Georgia Drummy (Women’s Singles)

 

The team departs for Buenos Aires on October 3 with Irish athletes in action on every day of the Games.