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America proud as punch to have stolen Billy Walsh away from us as their new boxing coach

Published 15:39 28 Oct 2015 GMT

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Well now it's official.

Stealing might be a bit too strong a word considering the ongoing fall-out from his sour departure, but the USA boxing team have released a glowing statement all about Billy Walsh and what exactly he will be up to now that's he's away from the IABA and the Irish boxing scene. The long serving head of the High Performance Unit was at the Olympic boxing trials in Memphis, and today the USA Boxing team have issued a statement confirming that Walsh will take up his new role in a couple of weeks. As suspected Walsh has been named team coach for the Women's National boxing team, and the Irishman is quoted as being very pleased with his new job

"It is a huge honour 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."

World Boxing Championships Press Conference, National Stadium, Dublin 26/9/2013 IABA's High Performance Head coach Billy Walsh Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie

Walsh was the head of Ireland's High performance Unit for 12 years but left Ireland last week after a much publicised failure to reach agreement with the IABA over a new contract. According to the statement Walsh will be able to appoint his own coaches in his new role.

"In his role as Women's National Team Head Coach, Walsh will work with the High Performance team to develop and execute USA Boxing's international calendar as well as overseeing the resident program at the United States Olympic Training Center. He will also work on identifying elite coaches that will assist in guiding athletes in international competitions and preparatory training camps.

The statement came in the middle of an Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications hearing into the entire background that led to Walsh quitting Irish boxing, and how the affair was handled by the IABA.

The meeting today has heard claims that the cost of a €1.6 million pay package to retain the Wexford man's services was seen by the IABA as a major stumbling block. Joe Christle, chairman of the IABA board of directors has been responding to the various allegations leveled at the board over the last two weeks, while Fergal Carruth, the chief of the IABA, stayed largely silent throughout the hearing https://twitter.com/KCsixtyseven/status/659355865032609793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/KevooByrne/status/659375258064044032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/bailemg/status/659359431059230720 John Treacy of the Sport Ireland also raised the issue of tension between Walsh and the IABA https://twitter.com/KevooByrne/status/659355089530953732 Kieran Mulvey also accused the IABA of having a "dysfunctional relationship" with Walsh, with the allegation denied by the boxing association. The hearing is currently ongoing. https://twitter.com/KCsixtyseven/status/659379514515025920

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Well now it's official.

"It is a huge honour 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."

"In his role as Women's National Team Head Coach, Walsh will work with the High Performance team to develop and execute USA Boxing's international calendar as well as overseeing the resident program at the United States Olympic Training Center. He will also work on identifying elite coaches that will assist in guiding athletes in international competitions and preparatory training camps.

America proud as punch to have stolen Billy Walsh away from us as their new boxing coach

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Well now it's official.

Well now it's official.

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