Billy Walsh claims that a tough draw was inevitable as a seven-man Irish team prepare to head into World Championship action in Doha.
Three Irish boxers are in action tonight at the 7,700-seater Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Arena, with Michael O’Reilly, Brendan Irvine and Dean Walsh all due to compete in the evening session of the opening day of tournament.
“We’re in a place where everybody has had to qualify for this event and there’s very little scope for getting an easy passage,” said Walsh ahead of the opening bell this afternoon.
“It’s going to be tough because everybody here is of good quality and they had to qualify through their continents so the quality coming out of there and Asia is a really high standard, but we’re ready and we’re prepared so we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
While the worlds is generally recognised as the toughest major at senior international level – Ireland have managed to win just nine medals over the 41-year history of the tournament, with Jason Quigley our only finalist – there is additional importance on this year’s event as it doubles up as a qualifier for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
To book a spot for Rio, four of the Irish fighters involved must claim a top-three finish, two (Joe Ward and Irvine) have to reach their respective finals, while captain Michael Conlan is already qualified for the Olympics through the World Series of Boxing (WSB).
Captain Conlan lead by example pal, shake and bake baby, world number 1... Boom boom boom @mickconlan11 #doha15
— Cllr Kenneth Egan (@kenegan30) September 29, 2015
RTÉ Sport will broadcast the World Championships from Saturday up until the finals on Thursday.
The draw was relatively generous to Walsh’s team considering the high standard of competition present at the worlds, although Portlaoise middleweight O’Reilly has a tough opener, clashing with Ukraine’s Valerii Kharlamov at the 75kg weight class where the eastern-Europeans are traditionally very strong.
“He’s got a tough Ukrainian, but you could say that the Ukrainian got a tough draw as well,” said Walsh, looking ahead to the European Games gold medallist’s first bout.
“Any Ukrainian fighter is going to be very, very physical, but Michael has all the tools to cope with it so it’s all about putting it together on the day.”
Wexford light-welterweight Walsh (nephew of Billy) takes on Luis Dian Arcon of Venezuela, while Belfast light-flyweight Irvine goes in against Nico Hernandez of the USA.
Irvine, the team’s youngest member at 19 years of age, has a mountain to climb if he has any chance of getting to the Olympics. Not only must he reach the 49kg final in Doha, but should he manage that feat then a box-off with Paddy Barnes would be likely as the latter, like Conlan, is qualified for Rio through the WSB.
The Antrim native has managed to shake off an arm injury ahead of his first bout, however.
“For Brendan, this is a learning curve. He’s broke on to the senior team, had his opportunity to go to the European Games and did fantastic when he went on to the final, he qualified for the World Championships,” said Walsh.
“Since he’s had his success some pressure has started to come on to him and some expectation around him and from himself as well. Sometimes it takes a guy a couple of years to adapt to that pressure, whether it’s external or internal and then to go in and perform at that level.
“We’re looking for Brendan to go in and give us a performance. I know that he’s capable of it… he finished in second place at the European Games so he’s as good as what’s there in Europe.”
Walsh, who has overcome a niggling hand problem to compete, is the other Irish fighter in action this evening and the Irish head coach admits that his nephew has been treated to some tough love since making his break into the senior ranks.
“I suppose it's inevitable that, because we're related, I do go harder on him, but it hasn't hurt him so far!” laughed the coach. “You can see that, but he has matured both physically and mentally in the last few months.
“He's had a bit of a niggle with his thumb but we've managed that and he's in good shape.”
The fact that all three Irishmen are out in the evening session means it will be a busy start to the tournament for Team Ireland, but Walsh maintains it will not lead to any oversights.
“We’re used to coping with situations like that, we’ve had many tournaments where we’ve had 10 boxers out nearly back to back and going constantly. We’ll manage it between the three coaches that are there,” said Walsh, who is assisted by fellow coaches Eddie Bolger and Zaur Antia.
Captain Conlan and Moate light-heavyweight Ward have received byes to the last 16 thanks to their high seedings and will not be in action until later in the week, while Belfast lightweight Seán McComb and Wexford welterweight Adam Nolan fight tomorrow against Mexican and Lithuanian opposition respectively.
Ireland team: 49kg: Brendan Irvine (St Paul’s). 56kg: Michael Conlan (captain, Clonard). 60kg: Seán McComb (Holy Trinity). 64kg: Dean Walsh (St Joesphs/St IBars). 69kg: Adam Nolan (Bray). 75kg: Michael O’Reilly (Portlaoise). 81kg: Joe Ward (APB/Moate).
Fixtures: Tuesday - Last 32 - 49kg: Brendan Irvine v Nico Hernandez (USA). 64kg: Dean Walsh v Luis Dian Arcon (Venezuela). 75kg: Michael O’Reilly v Valerii Kharlamov (Ukraine).
RTÉ2 and Player coverage begins this weekend:
Saturday 10 October: 5.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
Sunday 11 October: 10.25pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
Monday 12 October: 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
Wednesday 14 October: 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
Thursday 15 October: 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
