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Jason Quigley: Billy Walsh's discipline is missed in the Ireland team

It has been an Olympic Games to forget for Ireland's boxers. From Michael O'Reilly's failed drugs...
Newstalk
Newstalk

11.21 18 Aug 2016


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Jason Quigley: Billy Walsh&...

Jason Quigley: Billy Walsh's discipline is missed in the Ireland team

Newstalk
Newstalk

11.21 18 Aug 2016


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It has been an Olympic Games to forget for Ireland's boxers.

From Michael O'Reilly's failed drugs test before the Games to Michael Conlan's controversial loss, Ireland have struggled in the ring despite the impressive performances from Steven Donnelly and David Oliver Joyce.

One man who was not in Brazil, but could have easily been a medal contender had he not turned professional is Jason Quigley. The Donegal fighter won a silver medal at the World Championships in Russia, and turned professional soon afterwards.

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The 25-year-old Ballybofey fighter was a star of the High Performance Unit in Dublin and trained under Billy Walsh and Zaur Antia. Since Walsh has left, Quigley feels the Kilkenny's native has been missed in his non-coaching roles.

"The main place [Billy's] missed is with the control and the discipline", Quigley told the Donegal Sports Hub. "Billy was like a boss. He got you in line and kept the line straight".

Despite Quigley's assertion that Walsh is missed, he had nothing but praise for Antia. The Georgian has been under pressure in recent weeks after Ireland's lack of medals in the boxing ring in Rio.

"People don't realise that the coaching of Zaur is top notch, unbelievable actually. He's a great coach. The technical work he does is unreal".

Quigley still keeps a close on on the amateur boxing team, despite basing himself in America. Since making his professional debut in 2014, the Killybegs fighter has won all 11 of his fights, with nine of those coming inside the distance.


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