IRISH OLYMPIAN DARREN O’Neill has this evening expressed his disappointment at Billy Walsh’s decision to resign as head coach of the IABA’s High Performance Unit.
O’Neill told 2fm’s Game On he was still coming to terms with the news.
“It’s a hard one to get your head around. There’s mixed emotions. You go from being angry to upset, you don’t know what’s happening. I drove into the stadium today for an 11 o’clock training session only to realise Billy wasn’t going to be at the helm — it was funny.
“It’s the first time since I’ve started in the last 13 years that that has been the case. It was a bit unique. In between sessions, Billy came up to collect some of his stuff. It was absolutely horrible. We’ve long-term relationships with Billy — I’ve known him since I was a kid.
“I was there the day he came into the gym first when he got the job and unfortunately, I was there on his last day when he walked out. It was very peculiar.
“I suppose the circumstances aren’t what was desired and it’s very hard to prepare for that and to make peace with it. But that’s the way it is unfortunately.”
Michael Conlan, who recently became the first Irishman to win a World Championship gold medal with Walsh in his corner, added:
“I’m devastated. He’s been a great friend to me and a great friend to my family.
“He’s a fantastic guy and a fantastic coach, and just a really good people person. Him leaving was a shock to me. I was so surprised after the World Championships — I didn’t think he was going to go. I spoke to him and he got very emotional and I was emotional myself. It’s hard to take.
“But I don’t think Irish boxing will fall down after he goes because we do have great coaches and the right team behind us to keep us pushing forward towards more medals.”
