Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
No guilt in chasing the Olympic dream MCGUIGAN
THE boxers of Great Britain and Ireland are doubly fortunate to be contesting an Olympic qualifier at the Copper Box in London over the next 10 days.
To have the opportunity to be taking part in such a significant event at home, or near as matters, is a huge boost to prospects.
And to survive in the wake of a rapidly developing coronavirus crisis that has seen sport hit so hard elsewhere is a massive break.
It is not for the fighters to second-guess the experts and they need feel no guilt about chasing their Olympic dreams.
Most of these events take place far from home in sparsely populated arenas in an atmosphere akin to sparring in the gym.
Here the 13 fighters on both teams will have small pockets of people, family and friends, cheering them on. Believe me, half a dozen people screaming and shouting for you makes a big racket and a huge difference.
Some believe the spread of talent in the British squad to be the best we have seen. Middleweight Lauren Price won world amatuer gold last year, Pat Mccormack took welterweight silver, and Ben Whittaker 81kg bronze.
Price keeps it simple. She is a very effective fighter, tough as hell with unbelievable determination.
Mccormack can bang and box and
has great experience. The expectation is huge but he can handle that now.
Whittaker is a beautiful boxer with a great technique and, at 22, he is developing power nicely at 81kg. There are lots of Amir Khan traits about him.
Caroline Dubois (below) is arguably better than her brother Daniel, which tells you how good she is.
Unbeaten as a junior with a string of titles to her credit, including youth Olympics and world youth gold at 60kg, expect her to make plenty of headlines.
The Irish squad is also packed with quality. Michaela Walsh is very driven and strong at 57kg.
Kellie Harrington is another top prospect but the field is so strong at 60kg. I like Kurt Walker a lot at 57kg. He is from Canal ABC in Lisburn, where I am chairman, so I might be biased. Mind you, he is in the same division as GB’S Peter Mcgrail, who in terms of his movement, if not power, has a bit of Vasyl Lomachenko about him.
A total of 350 fighters will convene in London. Fingers crossed they get to box to a conclusion.
Finally, a word on my former manager Barney Eastwood, who died last week. He was a big character who knew boxing inside out. He also loved his horses and the art world.
We shared some amazing nights. My deepest sympathies to his wife Frances and family at this difficult time.