MEMBERS of several boxing clubs walked out of a meeting about the sport’s international future following “offensive” comments from the floor during Saturday’s event in Belfast.
Ahead of an upcoming vote on whether to remain part of the International Boxing Association (IBA) or join rival body World Boxing - formed in a bid to secure boxing’s Olympic future - the Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) has held a series of information meetings in recent days.
After road-shows in Munster, Leinster and Connacht, Ulster clubs were invited to Girdwood Community Hub on Saturday morning, where concerns were aired and questions asked as members get to grips with a potentially huge crossroads moment for the sport.
However, an otherwise good-natured meeting – led by new IABA board of directors chair Niall O’Carroll - took a turn when comments from Malachy Scott, who is secretary of the County Antrim Board, resulted in representatives from Midland, Monkstown and the newly-formed Rathcoole Boxing Club walking out.
Echoing previous concerns that attendees were receiving only “one side of the story”, and suggesting the IABA representatives present were “like propagandists for World Boxing”, Scott then claimed political motivations had played a part in the formation of the new rival world body.
“Everybody knows it is tied in with global politics,” he said.
“You made a key point about European countries waiting to see what way Ireland is going to jump – why? Because Ireland have that neutral status, and they’re well respected. All those values you talk about in some of your literature… we lose that if we jump into bed with America and Britain, who I see as leading this new organisation for geopolitical reasons, not for boxing.
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“It’s those two organisations who have funded World Boxing, and they’re not doing it for sporting reasons. It’s more to do with politics.
“Ireland will lose that cultural Irishness if we jump into bed with those two countries… these two countries are the most war-mongering countries in the world, never mind centuries of treachery.”
A member of Midland Boxing Club exited the room while Scott was still speaking, with a further exodus following O’Carroll’s response to Scott’s comments.
“I’ve no intention to stand here as a propagandist for World Boxing at all,” said O’Carroll.
“All I was trying to do was figure out a way for us to take a little bit of control of our future and have clarity on competitions.
“There’s absolutely nothing wrong with anything you just said, I fundamentally agree with what you said about politics and sport. We’re in the situation we’re in, we have a decision to make, and if the decision is ‘let’s wait until next year’, then that’s the decision…”
At this point Ulster Boxing Council president Kevin Duffy took the microphone, remarking that “we have to be careful where this conversation is going” and telling Scott that his comments “were offensive to some people in the room and it’s resulted in them leaving”.
Malachy Scott immediately withdrew his comments and, speaking to The Irish News after the meeting, insisted it was not his intention to offend anybody with his remarks.
Upon the meeting’s resumption after a short break, O’Carroll said: “I just want to make it clear that the comments earlier on were unnecessary, and not what we represent.
“We are an all-Ireland sport, but we are also a sport that recognises people’s differences culturally and backgrounds.”
A statement on behalf the Ulster Boxing Council and County Antrim Board, issued subsequent to Saturday morning’s meeting, pointed out that the comments in question “do not reflect the ethos of our organisation”.
“Ulster Boxing has always been committed to being an all-inclusive, all-island sport,” it read.
“We understand and respect the diverse cultural and national identities that exist within our membership. Over the past several years, we have made significant strides in our efforts to ensure that Ulster Boxing is a home for everyone, regardless of their cultural background or national identity.
“At our recent roadshow, certain comments were made that may have not fully expressed this philosophy. We would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that these viewpoints do not reflect the ethos of our organisation.
“We are committed to maintaining an environment of respect, unity, and inclusion. Every member of Ulster Boxing is a valued part of our community, and we will continue to work diligently to honor and uphold these principles.”
