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Ireland's Boxing Mastermind Billy Walsh Joins Team USA

Ireland lost one of its greatest international coaches after a messy public back forth over the last two weeks.
Jim Brown/USA TODAY Sports

Billy Walsh once again proved why he is one of the best-regarded coaches in amateur boxing this month as the former Irish coach led his country to a fourth-place finish at the amateur world championships in Doha, Qatar. At the same event, Irish bantamweight Michael Conlon became the first Irish male to take a gold medal from the event.

However, celebrations have been cut short on the back of the historic tally as just two weeks after the world championships, Walsh has arrived in the United States to take up his new role as coach to the US women's team.

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The news has been met with great frustration by the Irish people given the success Walsh has had at the helm of the Irish boxing team. Without a doubt, Walsh is by far the most successful sports coach Ireland has ever boasted, having led the nation to over 50 medals across European, Olympic and World competitions. The former Olympian has overseen a period that will be remembered as a golden era of Irish amateur boxing, and considering that we are less than a year away from Rio 2016, the implications of his loss could be quite significant.

Another bone of contention is the fact that the loss of Walsh seemed completely avoidable. It became public knowledge that US Boxing were looking to obtain the services of Ireland's High Performance Unit coach back in August. Despite the weeks that have passed since they became aware of it, the IABA, Sport Ireland and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport failed to come up with a contract that would secure the services of Walsh. On Monday, October 19, Walsh resigned from his role as head coach of Ireland's High Performance Unit and seemed to point to the IABA as the main reason why he could not continue on in his role.

His statement read: "Since February of this year I have been engaged in a process with the IABA to secure my future as Head Coach with the High Performance Unit and senior team. A protracted process that went on for eight months included numerous high level meetings that resulted in various proposals. In August a fair proposal was developed under the auspices of the Irish Sports Council (ISC) that was acceptable and fair but then not subsequently ratified by IABA.

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"I was hopeful in recent weeks that a final proposal arising out of an approach in late September by the IABA would lead to a successful conclusion but unfortunately it didn't. Regrettably the IABA have not made it possible for me to continue on in the role as Head Coach of the High Performance Unit and senior team."

Sport Ireland, the primary administrator of public funds to Irish boxing, claimed that they had signed off to cover the charges to keep Walsh in his role with the Irish amateurs. This week, the IABA seemed to point to the financial issues as the outstanding factor to re-signing Walsh as they insisted that "the vast majority of the discussions related to remuneration matters" in terms of their negotiations with Walsh.

Just two days ago, the Walsh issue was discussed in Irish government buildings where the IABA claimed that capturing the signature of the boxing coach would have cost €1.6 million, a figure they deemed to be "irresponsible if not reckless". However, Sport Ireland CEO John Treacy said that "non-financial matters were of paramount importance" to Walsh during the negotiations.

In a piece for the Irish Independent, Ed Carty outlined several conditions that Walsh wanted to be written into his contract as highlighted by Sport Ireland:

"Sport Ireland pointed to disputes over Mr Walsh's right to select his own team of boxers for competitions without needing sign-off from the IABA board and restrictions which forced him to seek written clearance for media appearances from IABA chief executive Fergal Carruth."

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On his arrival on US soil on Wednesday, US Boxing commented on how happy they were to have Walsh on board.

"Coach Walsh brings extensive experience and knowledge with a proven record of success on the international boxing stage. He provides great leadership and stability for our female athletes, particularly the resident boxers at the Olympic Training Center. His commitment to Olympic-style boxing is evident in the impact he's had on the Irish boxing programs."

Walsh spoke of what an honor it was to represent an "iconic boxing nation" from the US women's boxing trials in Memphis.

"It is a huge honor for me as a coach to receive the opportunity to work with such an iconic boxing nation as the United States. It was with great pride that I was part of building the successful Irish program over the past several years and I hope to do the same with USA Boxing.

"I am greatly looking forward to the opportunities ahead in bringing my expertise and experience to the United States women's team as they prepare for success in Rio and beyond."

Perhaps one of the most worrying things about Walsh's new role is the reality that he could potentially end up in an opposite corner to one of the most dominant female athletes ever, Irish national treasure Katie Taylor. A five-time world champion, Taylor will be 30 by the time the Games start in Rio next August and a victory for an American over Taylor might act as the perfect revenge for Walsh after his public back and forth with the IABA.

Certainly, the Irish public seems to understand Walsh's situation and why he felt he had to leave his role as the High Performance Unit's head coach. Ireland's loss is certainly the US's gain with regard to the decorated coach.