DUNNE TAKES OVER

Former world champion Bernard Dunne becomes Ireland’s High Performance Director

THE Irish Athletic Boxing Association has appointed ex-pro world champion Bernard Dunne as High Performance Director. He will work with head coach Zaur Antia and the Irish coaching staff at the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown, Dublin.

Dunne won the WBA superbantamweight title against Ricardo Cordoba in 2009 in Dublin. He was previously a European champion and retired in 2010.

“My vision is to take the very best in the current system and

match it with the very latest in high performance training so that our men and women can perform and win at European, World and Olympic level,” said Dunne. “Their attitude, commitment and work ethics are equally as important as their talents. So, I will be working with the boxers and the coaches to get the very best from their training regimes, diets, as well as their physical, mental and all round development.”

Fergal Carruth, IABA chief executive, said, “We are confident

that Bernard and the rest of the High Performance Team are now well placed to maximise the conveyor belt of talent that exists in Irish boxing evidenced by the continued success of our youth boxers in international competition.”

Boxing has previously been a successful Olympic sport for Ireland, but their Rio 2016 campaign was troubled, with top gold medal prospects Katie Taylor, Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan all failing to reach the semi-finals.

Sport Ireland Chairman Kieran Mulvey believes Dunne can restore their fortunes. “On behalf of Sport Ireland I would like to congratulate Bernard on his appointment.

“Bernard brings with him a wealth of experience in both the amateur and professional environment, and is the ideal candidate to lead Ireland’s boxing programme as we enter the Tokyo 2020 cycle,” he said.

“We look forward to even more success under Bernard’s leadership long into the future.”