Following a nightmare week in Rio, I keep hearing people talking about Billy Walsh, writes London 2012 Olympian Darren O'Neill.
“Billy Walsh is being missed” and “this wouldn’t have happened if Billy Walsh was still there”, and so on.
It’s hard not to think of the old saying, ‘You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone’.
I can’t say Billy would’ve changed the outcome of this week. Billy couldn’t make the draw, couldn’t pose us against easier opponents and couldn’t stop Michael O’Reilly doing what he did or chop off Paddy Barnes’ “excess” weight.
While he has proven to be great, no one man can control these events.
We can’t say whether Billy’s absence is a loss for sure. All we can say for definite is that it is different.
Differences cause us to panic at times in sport but this team has managed that difference largely due to the expertise and professionalism of Zaur Antia, Eddie Bolger and John Conlan.
A series of unfortunate events this week are seemingly undermining that, but I can attest personally of their worth to this team.
However, I don’t debase the huge influence Billy had, in not just qualifying this Olympic team before his departure, but in the colossal success of Irish boxing over 12 years – with seven Olympic medals.
I remember as a young kid my dad and coach, Ollie, brought me sparring in Wexford and asked Billy to do pads with me after.
"I have no doubt he will transform USA boxing like he did here and I am glad for him that one of his boxers medalled in Rio"
I didn’t know who Billy was at that stage but remember saying to my dad going home how I never wanted to do pads with him again.
He exhausted and extended me that day more than I cared for, but little did I realise, he would later make me captain of my country and bring me to European and World Championships, European Games and Olympic Games.
When I was in college Billy stayed back late in the evening to train me, after that he allowed me to do balance work and training and he looked out for me both in and out of the ring.
Billy’s technical knowledge was second only to his way with people and his exceptional people management and organisational skills.
It was strange seeing him wearing a USA uniform in Azerbaijan earlier this year but his support and love for Irish boxers was still evident even as he fulfilled his own new role, with a new team.
I have no doubt he will transform USA boxing like he did here and I am glad for him that one of his boxers medalled in Rio.
Over the years Billy Walsh changed Irish boxing so much, but one thing never changed - he always exhausted me beyond what I cared for on the pads.
