Fences mended as Zaur Antia to lead fighting Irish in Rio

Zaur Antia will guide Ireland’s boxers through to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro later this year after confirmation from Sport Ireland chief executive John Treacy that the bid to find a permanent successor to Billy Walsh will not kick into gear until after the Games.

Antia, the Georgian coach who has been hailed for his technical know-how by the likes of Katie Taylor and Paddy Barnes, was named interim head coach to the Irish Amateur Boxing Association’s (IABA) high performance unit after Walsh’s departure for the US last October.

“The IABA will probably look at all that in due course,” said Treacy, at the opening of the Institute of Sport High Performance Training Centre yesterday.