Extra round of one-day games gets go-ahead for La Manga
boxers who get into trouble. Most of the lads who box, ordinary guys learn from the discipline they get. There’s more discipline in boxing than any other sport and everyone in our club is treated equally. When you’re boxing you have a self-confidence that you don’t have to prove yourself with your mouth. You know if it comes to it you can fight.”
While many sports suffered during the Troubles, McKee — as with so many coaches — found their clubs could enter areas and feel no threat.
“I can only speak for my own club. There is UDA and UVF in this area and we have never had any trouble from them. We’ve never had graffiti on the club or windows broken. That says a lot. We have run a lot of shows and never had an issue.
“During the Troubles you could go into areas that maybe some would have been afraid of going into but we would never have had second thoughts going to Crossmaglen or Londonderry.
I suppose that’s the respect that boxing clubs have — it doesn’t matter who’s hitting you a dig in the chin!”
Growing up in York Street, part of Sailor Town as it was known, McKee says he had a natural hero in the shape of former world flyweight champion Rinty Monaghan who would walk past his window every day on his way to training. Despite having 16 amateur bouts, he felt boxing was not for him, particularly after heading to sea as a cabin boy at the tender age of 16. Three years later he was married to Eileen, who has supported him throughout his years as the head man at Midland.
“I was away for long periods on the ships, travelling to places like New York and Sydney, so Eileen had to look after the house and the children. That was tough but that applies to a lot of jobs and you have to earn a living — but sure even when you’re at home the person at home in charge is the wife so what difference does it make. I would give Eileen 9.9 out of 10... I couldn’t make her perfect!” quipped McKee.
With the Warrington fight just a week away, the conversation quickly returns to Frampton. While he had some great moments with the Jackal, there were frustrations and none more so than when his protege was denied the opportunity of boxing at the 2008 Olympics.
“As a coach the most hurtful moment for me. David Oliver Joyce was at his weight and the Irish champion. Carl was the number two and there was nothing between them. David Oliver had failed at two Olympic qualifiers. There was one left and that was to be Carl’s opportunity. But, they ordered a box-off for the end of the month.
“Carl had an injury but it would have been fine but then it was ordered for a week’s time and they knew he wouldn’t be ready. They knew he had a medical issue and still asked him to box. I said no and his chance to box at the Games was taken away.”
Frampton would go on to defeat Joyce in the Irish final before turning professional, going on to win world titles at super-bantamweight and featherweight as well as enjoying the ultimate stage of boxing at Windsor Park and after turning back the challenge of Australian Luke Jackson there was one man he had in mind as the celebrations ensued.
“This fight is dedicated to my first coach Billy McKee,” said Frampton from the ring.
Some detected a misting of the eyes as McKee sat at ringside. “I was fortunate to coach him and how many guys have been champions and forgotten their coaches, who have not recognised them,” McKee said.
“Windsor Park was fantastic for him and when he dedicated the fight to me that was special. I wasn’t expecting it. Just the lad recognising the fact of what the club did for him means a lot.
“The most important thing is that he is a great ambassador for Northern Ireland. Very few people in Northern Ireland could say anything against him.” AN expanded inter-provincial season will start in La Manga, Spain next April.
The Cricket Ireland board gave the go-ahead this week for an extra round of one-day (50over) games and, if required, a Twenty20 festival in September, although that will not be confirmed until February.
There will be no change to the format for 2019 with the three teams (Northern Knights, North West Warriors and Leinster Lightning) playing each other home and away in the three-day Championship and now threetimes in the One-day Cup.
Munster Reds will continue in the T20 Trophy only but Cricket Ireland are hoping to add a fourth team to the Championship and Cup in 2020.
The intention is to play the T20 competition as festival weekends, dispensing with the Friday night fixtures which have proven so unpopular with players, with a final (or extra) round in La Manga ahead of the T20 World Cup qualifiers in October/November.
It has also been confirmed that Ireland will become the first Full Member nation to play in Oman.
The 2019 fixture list will start with a T20 quadrangular tournament in Muscat on February 13, 15 and 17 with two matches each day.
Ireland begin with a game against the hosts — who are ranked one place higher than Gary Wilson’s side — followed by Scotland and the Netherlands.
The Irish team will have two warm-up matches against an Oman Development XI on February 9 and 10.
The squad will fly to India on February 18 for a nine-match series against Afghanistan, starting with a three-match T20 series.
The CI board have also left the door open for a Northern Ireland side to compete in a Women’s T20 competition which joins the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham — although more likely they will wait until the following Games in 2026 before entering.
❝ The most hurtful moment for me as a coach — Carl’s chance to box at the Olympics taken away.”