‘He owes us nothing’ – Northern Ireland boxers the high-profile absentees from Ireland team for World Championships

The World Championships in Liverpool are the first to be held by the new body that was established after the IOC refused to deal with the IBA

Olympic medal winner Aidan Walsh has been told that he owes Irish boxing nothing as he decides on his future. Walsh and Jude Gallagher are two high-profile absentees from Team Ireland’s 17-strong in Liverpool for the start of the World Boxing World Championships on Thursday. Neither have competed in the ring since their respective early Paris Olympics exit in the summer of last year.

After contemplating retirement after winning bronze in Tokyo, Walsh, 28, made the decision to participate in the qualifiers late in the last Olympic cycle and made the team for the Games. But the Belfast welterweight lost his first round bout with Makan Traoré from the host nation.

“Aidan Walsh doesn’t owe Irish boxing anything,” said IABA high performance coach Damian Kennedy. “He’s been a fantastic servant for Irish boxing. Aidan has a bit of thinking to do with what his future looks like. We’re open for that discussion with Aidan, absolutely.”

Team Ireland’s head coach Zaur Antia added: “Aidan has done quite a good job and, at the moment, he is thinking about the future,” said Antia. “Maybe he can continue.”

Gallagher, who hails from Newtownstewart, had a bye into the second round in Paris but lost his last 16 clash to Carlo Palaam of the Philippines in the 57kg category.

“Jude has recovered, he’s training very well and is in good shape now,” said Antia. “We’re looking to a great future for him as well, it’s just been a long time.

“They’re never left without attention by the performance staff. Whatever they want, we maximize our attention to them.”

And Kennedy added: “Jude’s been managing that injury – a bit of a hard one to get over, but he’s come out the other side of it now. Timelines didn’t suit Jude (for the World championships).”

World Boxing was formally recognised by the IOC earlier this year and will organise boxing at the LA Olympics in 2028.

The World Championships in Liverpool are the first to be held by the new body that was established after the IOC refused to deal with the IBA, and Antia feels it is a new beginning for Irish boxing.

“This is excellent,” he said. “This is the first time it happens and everything the first time is exciting. We are ready for this and for the experience. “

Team Ireland recently held training camps in Germany and, closer to the championships, in Sheffield, along with a number of teams from strong boxing nations.

“Everyone wanted to spar with us more and more, that indicates that we are quite a strong team,” Antia remarked. “And now everything depends on how we control the controllables and keep everybody positive.”

Among those in Liverpool are former world champions Aoife and Lisa O’Rourke, and Olympians Jack Marley, Jenny Lehane, Daina Moorehouse, Michaela Walsh, Dean Clancy and Grainne Walsh.

None of the six who competed in Paris managed to medal – only Kellie Harrington, who has retired but is still training in the high performance unit, achieved what she wanted from the Games.

Antia said there are no excuses but emphasised that the team – who qualified 10 boxers – had prepared “very well”, adding “we always have to prove ourselves, the more experience you have, you have to use it wisely.

“I thought we should have had more medals but we’ll try next time to improve. Talents need nurturing, they need more experience and support.”

Kennedy added: “What I’ve seen since the Olympic Games is just a complete determination, a real hunger within the squad.

“People have got a new sense of focus and purpose. The goals have changed. They’re still in the environment, still pushing themselves really hard and they’re open to challenge.

“What it showed me was just that their determination has been phenomenal since they’ve all returned from the Olympic Games.”

The long-serving Antia has stressed on several occasions that this is a development year for the team as it is the first year of the new Olympic cycle.

“Everything in my head is about performance,” he said. “The main task for us is to develop these boxers for the Olympic Games, that’s what it’s about.

“Of course, medals are fantastic as well – but if you think about medals, you’ll maybe not perform. That’s why performance is first and everything else is second.

“It’s a quite experienced team, I would say we have a very good team and have had an excellent training camp.

“We have good boxers who had already achieved in previous competitions, but we need more competition as well and, in the future, we are looking for more support to continue the development even more.

“We are ready for this competition but the challenge continues. We have to behave in a positive fashion and be positive, to keep our boxers in focus. That defines everything.”