Backwards thinking cost Ireland Billy Walsh

The IABA's refusal to modernise is going to cost Ireland medals and the body only has itself to blame

Irish boxing is on the ropes after losing Billy Walsh Pic: Inpho

The loss of Billy Walsh from Irish boxing is a clear and unquestionable failure on the part of Irish sport. Intransigence cost Irish sport one of its greatest managers, a far more important asset with Walsh than his rightly acclaimed coaching, and it is going to lead to a loss of medals in a sport Ireland leans on for success at Olympic level.

After years, not months or weeks, of taking a well-deserved ...