O’Rourke expects best-ever Seniors

27 January 2009 – Press Release

Dominic O’Rourke, the President of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association, is confidently predicting that the 2009 Elite Irish Senior Championships will be one of the most exciting tournaments seen at the National Stadium in Dublin in decades.

Olympics medalists, World champions, European medalists, European Union champions and a raft of Irish, Provincial and Multi Nation champions will be vying for glory at next months eagerly anticipated event.

Speaking at today’s Press Conference at the National Stadium, O’Rourke said that the 2009 Championships would be the start of a new and exciting four year cycle in Irish amateur boxing.

He said: “There will be stiff competition in every weight division at the Elite Senior Championships. The talent is emerging up through the system all the time and our younger boxers want to contribute to our continuing success.

“Looking at some of the names that have already entered this years tournament I would have no hesitation in predicting that Irish amateur boxing fans will not be disappointed with the talent on show across a wide variety of weigh divisions next month.

“Each weight division will be highly competitive and the current champions know that they cannot afford to be complacent as our younger boxers are hungry for honours and they will be eager to cause upsets.

“The Elite Irish Senior Championships will mark the beginning of a new four year cycle for us. Last year was a year of unprecedented success for the IABA and we are now on the threshold of what will be another exciting four year period for Irish amateur boxing.”

The 2009 Elite Irish Championships begin on February 6th and will be run over three weekends culminating in finals night on February 20th.

The weigh-in and draw for the Championships will be held at the National Stadium on February 6th. The weigh-in will be held between 8am and 11am with the draw to follow.

The 2009 Championships will be contested under the new AIBA rules governing the duration of senior bouts for male boxers. As of January 1st 2009 men’s senior bouts have been contested over three, three minute rounds, a change from the old format of four, two minute rounds.

The IABA will announce their squad for the two senior internationals versus the USA after the 2009 Championships. Ireland will meet the USA at the National Stadium on February 27th and at the Arch Centre in Athy on March 1st.