Team USA Signs Billy Walsh As Head Coach
Team USA Signs Billy Walsh As Head Coach
By Roy BillingtonUSA BoxingÂ’s hopes for gold medals at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro may have just received a monumental boost. One of the worldÂ’s e
By Roy Billington
USA BoxingÂ’s hopes for gold medals at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro may have just received a monumental boost. One of the worldÂ’s elite amateur boxing coaches, Billy Walsh, has announced his plans to leave the Irish Amateur Boxing Association to work exclusively with the USA team in Colorado Springs.
In his role as the Head Coach of the Irish boxing team, Walsh thoroughly revolutionized the teamÂ’s training methods and moved the nation from mid-level at best to one of the most successful teams in the world. Under WalshÂ’s tutelage, a number of talented boxers reached their potential. Walsh brought Katie Taylor from talented teen to perhaps the best female boxer on the planet, but over the last year relations between Walsh and IABA have deteriorated significantly.
Initially, it was rumored that the reasoning behind WalshÂ’s imminent departure were financial, but over the last few days it has become apparent that isnÂ’t the case. In what might seem surprising to outsiders, Walsh offered to leave his full time role with the association as a cost saving measure and work as an outside contractor, which would help the budget to cover the teamÂ’s expenses. It wasnÂ’t to be, as after spending eight months negotiating conditions of employment with the IABA, they failed to come to an agreement.
Walsh spoke about his reasoning for leaving with RTE:
“Look it, it was a bit of respect around your role and position, being able to lead your team through to Rio, and have the autonomy to do your job," he said. "I’ve went back time after time, been rejected on different occasions and went back to go and try and make this thing work. For my own dignity and respect I couldn’t stoop any lower”.
Walsh went on to explain why he immediately decided upon the Team USA position:
“It’s a fantastic opportunity to work with the biggest nation in the world, which has sadly slipped from the radar around amateur boxing," he said. "There’s a massive amount of talent over there if you can put a system in place that we’ve achieved here in Ireland, I think they could be the best nation in the world.”
IrelandÂ’s loss is most certainly the USAÂ’s gain. For a nation that produces such reputable professional boxers, America has certainly suffered shortcomings in the amateur ranks for the last decade. With the additional resources and talent that Walsh will have at his disposal in Colorado Springs it is hard to believe that he wonÂ’t be able to put together a successful team for the Rio Olympics and the Tokyo games thereafter.
With this announcement, Irish boxing has been rocked to the core. Walsh leaves behind a promising team that are just months away from the Olympics that includes his own nephew, Dean, a promising up-and-comer.
The next few months will certainly be interesting for Team USA. It remains to be seen if Walsh will be able to pull together the team in time for the Olympics. Judging on his past record, WalshÂ’s long-term success seems guaranteed though; the Wexford man will need some time to adjust to life away from his beloved Ireland..
USA BoxingÂ’s hopes for gold medals at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro may have just received a monumental boost. One of the worldÂ’s elite amateur boxing coaches, Billy Walsh, has announced his plans to leave the Irish Amateur Boxing Association to work exclusively with the USA team in Colorado Springs.
In his role as the Head Coach of the Irish boxing team, Walsh thoroughly revolutionized the teamÂ’s training methods and moved the nation from mid-level at best to one of the most successful teams in the world. Under WalshÂ’s tutelage, a number of talented boxers reached their potential. Walsh brought Katie Taylor from talented teen to perhaps the best female boxer on the planet, but over the last year relations between Walsh and IABA have deteriorated significantly.
Initially, it was rumored that the reasoning behind WalshÂ’s imminent departure were financial, but over the last few days it has become apparent that isnÂ’t the case. In what might seem surprising to outsiders, Walsh offered to leave his full time role with the association as a cost saving measure and work as an outside contractor, which would help the budget to cover the teamÂ’s expenses. It wasnÂ’t to be, as after spending eight months negotiating conditions of employment with the IABA, they failed to come to an agreement.
Walsh spoke about his reasoning for leaving with RTE:
“Look it, it was a bit of respect around your role and position, being able to lead your team through to Rio, and have the autonomy to do your job," he said. "I’ve went back time after time, been rejected on different occasions and went back to go and try and make this thing work. For my own dignity and respect I couldn’t stoop any lower”.
Walsh went on to explain why he immediately decided upon the Team USA position:
“It’s a fantastic opportunity to work with the biggest nation in the world, which has sadly slipped from the radar around amateur boxing," he said. "There’s a massive amount of talent over there if you can put a system in place that we’ve achieved here in Ireland, I think they could be the best nation in the world.”
IrelandÂ’s loss is most certainly the USAÂ’s gain. For a nation that produces such reputable professional boxers, America has certainly suffered shortcomings in the amateur ranks for the last decade. With the additional resources and talent that Walsh will have at his disposal in Colorado Springs it is hard to believe that he wonÂ’t be able to put together a successful team for the Rio Olympics and the Tokyo games thereafter.
With this announcement, Irish boxing has been rocked to the core. Walsh leaves behind a promising team that are just months away from the Olympics that includes his own nephew, Dean, a promising up-and-comer.
The next few months will certainly be interesting for Team USA. It remains to be seen if Walsh will be able to pull together the team in time for the Olympics. Judging on his past record, WalshÂ’s long-term success seems guaranteed though; the Wexford man will need some time to adjust to life away from his beloved Ireland..