Egan on Ward loss
2 March 2011 – Jonny Stapleton
2008 Olympic silver medallist Kenny Egan is looking at London 2012 qualification loopholes after his shock defeat to 17 year old powerhouse Joe Ward in the National Stadium last weekend.
Egan failed in his attempt to win an unprecedented 11th consecutive Senior Irish title, as the Moate BC Westmeath teenager carved out a shocking 11-6 victory that sees him replace the Neilstown Clubman in Olympic light heavyweight pole position.
The IABA World Youth champion now has one foot on the plane for the World Championships and Olympic qualifiers in Baku, Azerbaijan, next September.
If the teenage champion reaches the quarter-finals in Baku, he will book his ticket for London – potentially shutting the door to the 2012 Olympic Games sliver medallist and Irish Captain. Egan, who was gracious and complimentary to his opponent in defeat, isnt giving up on dream of bettering his Beijing exploits, however, and says he will change weight if it gets him on the plane to London.
Egan will keep an eye on Wards progress from his Miami residence as he continues to fight in the WSB tournament and is adamant his Olympic dream isnt dead its just on its sick bed.
I will be keeping an eye on him and his progress now. If he makes the top eight in the worlds then he is going to the Olympics. It isnt over yet though. If he did qualify I would have no problem looking to another weight. It would be last chance saloon for me then. I am not finished. My head’s on my shoulders and I will go back to Miami do my own thing for six months and see what happens in the mean time. He might struggle to make this weight. He is a big lad and is still growing at 17 so he could be looking to go to London at a different weight, Egan added before reflecting on his first loss in decade.
