How boxing is a unique Irish sporting success story – The Irish Times

At the elite level, boxing, and Kellie Harrington in particular, has carved a place in people’s minds—perhaps even hearts—without even trying. Like the GAA, the boxing is “fast off the ground” and has authenticity through spit and scrub.

In Olympic boxing, there is no designer in the clothes, only Eddie Hearn promoting it. It doesn’t put much emphasis on the cosmetic purpose of advertising, but this week, at the European Games in Poland, it communicated in its own way.

Boxing continues to be excellent at World Championship and Olympic levels. And at larger events, it endearingly allows its athletes to express themselves in the way they do best. Winning is one thing, personality another.

This sometimes gives a mixed result. Lose a fight you feel should have won and possibly miss the press conference. They’re hurt, frustrated, and unhappy, and they say, “Fuck it, I don’t talk to anyone.” Was there a participation agreement for media relations? Who cares?

It’s the kind of personal reaction that people can understand. Boxers are their own people and personalities and are trusted to express themselves as they see fit. Think of Michael Conlan at the Rio Olympics: his father John at his side, whose heart has been ripped out by the judges since he became involved in corruption, and Michael both profaning them and the International Olympic Committee right on camera barrels there. No other sport.

[ Kellie Harrington, Michaela Walsh and Dean Clancy qualify for Olympic Games ]

There is no real media training in boxing. They don’t come out to conduct pre-learned workshops on topics of conversation that are both meaningless and uninteresting. Boxers exude a certain honesty, a fundamental trait that compels them to often talk outside the ring as they compete in the ring. They tear off the plaster. Her background also suggests a healthy skepticism towards authority.

There were ups and downs at this week’s Olympic qualifying tournament in Poland. Harrington came out after qualifying for next summer’s Paris Games and explained that she was dying to call her wife Mandy from the hotel as she was going cold turkey from her phone. She added that after a period of struggling with her affections, she has come to love the sport that has given her so much joy and an Olympic gold medal again.

Dean Clancy appeared after winning his quarterfinals and booking a ticket to Paris and spoke about how his grandfather had died a few days earlier and was buried on the day he fulfilled a lifelong dream. “I’m only 21,” he cried out between sadness and exhilaration, unable to believe he was going to the Olympics.

When southpaw Amy Broadhurst accepted a surprise invitation from pro world champion Katie Taylor to train with her at her base in Connecticut last year before the Bray fighter fought Amanda Serrano at Madison Square Garden for the world title, the arc of her career changed .

Within six months, Broadhurst had won the World, European, and Commonwealth titles at the 140-pound light welterweight division.

Broadhurst lost their quarterfinal bout in Poland. She’s not at the Olympics. She had to move up to the 66kg weight class as her world championship weight is not an Olympic category and her more natural 60kg lightweight is at Harrington. Broadhurst did not appear to the media. No problem. She posted her thoughts online.

“Heartbroken isn’t the right word,” she said. “I always thought my destiny was the Olympics. I thought I was born to box. I was supposed to be an Olympic champion and that’s not how it went for me. I don’t know what’s next. I don’t know if I’ll ever put an amateur glove on my hand again or if I’ll turn pro.”

In boxing, they are taught to believe that they can become world champions and Olympic champions. Masters of their destiny, they are trained to conquer the world. Just like kids think when they don’t know any better, boxing athletes have no idea that the Olympics is beyond their talent, beyond their ability.

They are determined to understand that success is within them as much as failure. Both live side by side but over the years, since High Performance was formed to identify the ever-rising talent, boxing has bucked trends in other Irish sports (rowing being an exception).

Attend Wimbledon next week. There were no Irish players, male or female, in the qualifying draw, nor will there be in the main draw of 128 players. The junior list is not yet available. But last year there were no Irish players. That suggests nothing will happen across the board.

Sport has priorities. It is not easy to emulate the success of skibbereen rowing or what Zaur Antia and the boxing coaches are achieving at club level.

[ Kellie Harrington finds love of boxing again as she edges closer to Olympic qualification ]

However, Jack Marley and Aoife O’Rourke are in the ring on Friday to try and win the semifinals and secure their ticket to Paris. The success increases the number of those who qualified for the Olympic Games in Poland to five.

They always think of themselves as the best in the world and looking back at the week in Poland conclude that five athletes wasn’t enough.

They will find out what happened, roll up their sleeves, fix the problem and continue to win more Irish Olympic medals than any other sport combined.