Lee: Keeping Zaur Antia must be IABA’s number one priority

Andy Lee believes the IABA could have done more to stop Billy Walsh from leaving and says it is now imperative for the future of Irish amateur boxing to retain the services of coach Zaur Antia.

Walsh and IABA had been locked in negotiations for most of the year about a new contract but, unable to find a resolution, the long-serving head coach reluctantly resigned on Monday.

The shock departure, and the subsequent news that Walsh is now set to take up a job with the USA boxing association, has provoked a strong reaction from within the camp and also among the public but, potentially most damaging, from the Irish Sports Council.