2009 Senior
Championships Press Conference
By Bernard O'Neill
January 27, 2009
(JAN 27) Dominic O'Rourke, the President
of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association, is confidently predicting that
the 2009 Elite Irish Senior Championships will be one of the most
exciting tournaments seen at the National Stadium in Dublin in decades.
Olympics medalists, World champions, European medalists, European Union
champions and a raft of Irish, Provincial and Multi Nation champions
will be vying for glory at next months eagerly anticipated event.
Speaking at today's Press Conference at the National Stadium, O'Rourke
said that the 2009 Championships would be the start of a new and
exciting four year cycle in Irish amateur boxing.
He said: "There will be stiff competition in every weight division at
the Elite Senior Championships. The talent is emerging up through the
system all the time and our younger boxers want to contribute to our
continuing success.
"Looking at some of the names that have already entered this years
tournament I would have no hesitation in predicting that Irish amateur
boxing fans will not be disappointed with the talent on show across a
wide variety of weigh divisions next month.
"Each weight division will be highly competitive and the current
champions know that they cannot afford to be complacent as our younger
boxers are hungry for honours and they will be eager to cause upsets.
"The Elite Irish Senior Championships will mark the beginning of a new
four year cycle for us. Last year was a year of unprecedented success
for the IABA and we are now on the threshold of what will be
another exciting four year period for Irish amateur boxing."
The 2009 Elite Irish Championships begin on February 6th and will be run
over three weekends culminating in finals night on February 20th.
The weigh-in and draw for the Championships will be held at the National
Stadium on February 6th. The weigh-in will be held between 8am and 11am
with the draw to follow.
The 2009 Championships will be contested under the new AIBA rules
governing the duration of senior bouts for male boxers. As of January
1st 2009 men's senior bouts have been contested over three, three minute
rounds, a change from the old format of four, two minute rounds.
The IABA will announce their squad for the two senior internationals
versus the USA after the 2009 Championships. Ireland will meet the USA
at the National Stadium on February 27th and at the Arch Centre in Athy
on March 1st.
