Walsh expecting Irish opponents in Rio
Having left his previous position with at the Irish High Performance Unit last year in order to fulfil a new role with USA Boxing, Billy Walsh certainly expects to come up against Irish opponents at the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio. Currently working with female boxers across the pond, as well as helping young male fighters with preparations for the Olympics, Walsh is sure of facing a fellow countryman having never faces an American opponent in his thirteen years working with Ireland.
The likelihood of facing fighters whom he once nurtured has seemingly dawned on Walsh, with the much acclaimed coach admitting to finding it difficult to comprehend such a scenario. Both American and Ireland each have six fighters qualified for the games currently, with a number of others expected to seal their participation with bouts over the coming weeks. After a difficult start to his tenure in America, Walsh has certainly won over his critics now after impressive displays from his athletes. Walsh once described American boxing as the “sleeping giant” within the amateur levels of the sport, and will be looking to the Olympics as the start of a dramatic revival for the country.
Jason Quigley’s impressive defeat of experienced James De La Rosa in Las Vegas recently will certainly have inspired many youngsters to take to the ring back home in Ireland. Coupled with the Rio Olympics, Irish Boxing governing bodies will be hoping to attract a whole new core of young fighters inspired by their heroes.
Meanwhile, UFC’s Connor McGregor is reportedly on the verge of agreeing a fight against undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr in the boxing ring. Bookmakers Coral make the colourful Irishman the 9/1 outsider should such a content come to fruition. The next major battle in the ring is no doubt the rematch between Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko. Having defeated the Ukrainian on points last time around, the Englishman puts his WBA and WBO World Heavyweight titles on the line in what is a mandatory second fight. Check out the odds on the Tyson Fury Klitschko rematch where the champion is even money with Coral to defend his title.
A win for Fury could well pave the way for a much anticipated fight with countryman Anthony Joshua. Joshua puts his IBF title on the line when he comes up against Dominic Breazeale in June, with the American given odds of 9/1 by Coral to cause a huge upset.
