Three countries in the hunt for Zaur Antia
Ireland could lose another vital cog in the High Performance team that brought a host of precious metal to Ireland in recent years.
One year after former High Performance boss Billy Walsh took up a role with the US boxing team, his right hand man Zaur Antia is being head hunted by a number of nations.
Azerbaijan have joined the long-documented Canadian pursuit, alongside and a country from the Middle East, in competing to tempt respected coach, who is labelled the World’s best by most who have trained under him, away from Ireland.
Bray-based Antia, who currently holds the ‘Interim Head Coach’ role in the IABA, has been highlighted by a number of Elite amateur boxers past and present and the one man Irish boxing can’t lose.
However, it seems a number of boxing powerhouses are keen on his services and after what seems like the avoidable lose of Walsh losing the coach would seem disastrous for a set up that ensured boxing success of the highest order in recent times.
Irish boxing is in somewhat of a transition period having lost Micheal Conlan, Paddy Barnes and even Katie Taylor to the pro ranks, but amateur stalwarts will rightly point out there is a host of young talent ready to take up the mantle.
Antia has stated numerous times his desire to stay with the Irish set-up, but the prospect of a financially appealing packet could persuade the Georgian.
