Not as loud this time, but Irish still out in force for boxing trio

The crowds and the noise level may not have rattled the Richter scale to the same extent as Katie’s gold medal moment, but the Irish were again out in force in the ExCel arena yesterday afternoon.

They were there to cheer on two boxers in lunchtime semi-final action, with Paddy Barnes cruelly denied an Olympic final berth after losing on countback to China’s defending champion Zou Shiming in the light-flyweight division. It means the Belfast man will collect bronze for the second consecutive Olympic Games.

But there was better to come with John Joe Nevin hugely impressive in defeating Cuba’s top man Lázaro Álvarez Estrada 19-14 in their bantam-weight clash. The win, which featured a little Ali shuffle in the third round, sets up a final against Britain’s Luke Campbell.

Later, there was heartbreak for Belfast man Michael Conlan, who will pick up a bronze after being beaten by the impressive Robeisy Ramirez Carrazana from Cuba. The crowd had willed him on throughout.

John Fitzgerald, a former member of the Ennis boxing club, has been a near constant presence at the ExCel for the week.

“Boxing has been my sport since I was a child,” said the Clare man. “This week has been absolutely marvellous, a wonderful occasion. The atmosphere has been extraordinary and the standard of boxing has been wonderful. Paddy Barnes was very unfortunate to have lost by a single point on countback. I really thought it should have gone his way. But he fought a great fight.”

Fitzgerald, with a Tricolour fluttering furiously after every Irish bout, is more than just a fan; he is an aficionado with an eye honed in musky old gyms far from the glamour of the Olympic Games. And in Nevin he witnessed a touch of genius. “John Joe Nevin was absolutely marvellous. He really played the Cuban at his own game. He is a lovely boxer. He has a different open style. He is not a shield man and has such a variety of punches.

“He reminds me of the great Muhammad Ali.”

Mallow native Brian Carey, who works in London, was equally impressed by the Mullingar man.

The Cork native said: “John Joe was incredible. I was sitting next to two British boxing guys who were involved in the organisation of the Games and they were saying after the first round that John Joe should turn pro. When they saw him dancing they were jumping out of their seats.”

For Carey those seconds encapsulate the Olympics and the relationship that has grown between the Irish and their English hosts.

“That is something that has been great. We have been at a number of events — boxing, cycling, rowing, and a few other things as well — and the one constant has been the great atmosphere between the Irish and the British. The way the British have been roaring on the Irish and vice versa is really nice. You have the historical thing between the countries but all of that has been put to one side.”

Darragh Gilhawley from Monaghan is also based in London and feels that Irish boxing can proudly stand, and fight, alongside the traditional powerhouses.

“The Paddy Barnes fight was heartbreaking. He put up a great fight and can be proud of himself. But I’m delighted for John Joe and the manner which he won. We were always hopeful that we would have some medals in the boxing so we took the risk of applying for tickets last year confident we would have someone competing on these days. Now we are delighted it has worked out.

“The Cubans have a great tradition in the boxing. But I think at this stage Irish boxing seems to fear nobody. There will be a great atmosphere for an Ireland vs UK final on Saturday night because both sides have supported each other all week. But there will be no love lost in the final.”

Paul Gaffney journeyed over from Portlaoise reasoning that this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. “I’ve friends over here and I am over quite a bit to see them and this was the perfect opportunity to come to an Olympics on our doorstep. Who would want to miss it? The tickets for Katie were a bit beyond my expense but I’ve shelled out for the men’s final on Saturday night so at least I will get to see John Joe hopefully take gold. I think he has a good chance. He was so impressive against the world’s number one. Now I think we have a genuine chance of gold.”

And that is how high the bar is set. Where once Ireland was satisfied with mere medals, now the national focus and expectation is on their colour. Carey believes the boxers’ attitude of not settling for second best is a mantra the country could learn from.

Carey said: “Billy Walsh [Irish boxing’s high performance head coach] is an amazing man with what he has achieved in the boxing. He is an example to what Irish people in business and everything should be aiming at.

“There is a structure in place which is world class. Maybe it is something that Ireland as a country should be aiming for.”