As Ireland’s boxers prepare for next week’s World Championships in Liverpool, IABA High Performance Director Jon Mackey believes the team is well-placed to make an impact despite a challenging year of limited competition.

“Absolutely, I’m looking forward to it,” Mackey said of his first World Championships in charge.

“Of course, there are nerves as well—it’s the first big world event for this group. But I think the team has had the preparation and exposure they need.”

 

Building Momentum

Mackey admits the path to Liverpool has not been straightforward. Opportunities to test themselves on the international stage have been scarce.

“It’s been an unusual year,” he explained. “The women had their World Championships at the start of the year, and then we had the Strandja event. After that, there was pretty much nothing. The men’s team haven’t had a tournament run-out at all.”

Instead, the IABA has focused on high-quality training camps. “We were in Germany early this month, which went very well. For those we couldn’t match there, we brought sparring partners in from Hungary and Norway.”

“And then the squad were in Sheffield for a big camp with 16 international teams, including the USA and Kazakhstan. The standard there was really high.”

These camps are designed to replicate competition conditions, with referees, judges, and full bouts. “It’s about giving them the experience of stepping through the ropes against likely opponents before Liverpool,”Mackey said.

 

Handling the Pressure

With both men’s and women’s squads competing simultaneously, Mackey knows the pressure on his coaching team will be intense.

“It can be extremely challenging, especially if running orders clash,” he admitted. “But we’ve five coaches out there. We plan every day who will cover which boxer, and if the timings are close, we’ve contingency plans. The staff are very seasoned. They’ll hold it together and make sure the boxers aren’t affected psychologically.”

 

Lessons From Paris

The World Championships come off the back of a disappointing Olympics for many in the squad. Mackey says lessons have been taken.

“Nine boxers didn’t get the result they wanted in Paris,” he reflected. “They’ve all been through a review process and worked on tactical gaps. But for me, it’s more about exposure—getting that experience of competing at the top level. This is still a relatively young team, even our more seasoned boxers. Some are only now entering their peak years.”

Maturity, he says, can’t be rushed. “It’s detrimental to push athletes too quickly towards medals. Every boxer moves at their own pace. We have Olympians, but also younger fighters on a developmental path.”

“Liverpool is the right step for them—and who knows, it might set them on the road to LA 2028.”

 

Harrington’s Influence Still Felt

Olympic champion Kelly Harrington remains a presence in the High Performance Unit, though her long-term plans are undecided.

“Limbo isn’t a word I’d use with Kelly—she always has a plan,” Mackey said. “She’s still training, on an individualised programme, and she’s been sparring with the squad. We’ll have a conversation later in the year about her future, but for now it’s great to have her around.”

Her influence, he added, is immeasurable. “When young boxers see Kelly Harrington working away in the gym, it shows them that medals are achievable. It makes the dream tangible. She and others from the Paris cycle set a standard and bring a high-performance culture that new athletes quickly absorb.”

 

Restoring Confidence in the Sport

Liverpool also represents a crucial test for World Boxing, the new governing body that emerged following years of controversy around the IBA.

“Our greatest hope is that these championships run without controversy,” Mackey said. “World Boxing have been transparent and introduced new systems of accountability in judging. The early signs are positive.”

That stability, he argues, is vital. “Boxing has a unique reach into working-class communities across Ireland. It gives kids a pathway to something bigger—Olympics, World Championships, a sport with huge legacy. To lose the Olympic pathway would have been devastating. Thankfully, boxing is secure for LA, where it belongs.”

 

Looking Ahead

For Mackey, the Liverpool championships are about building belief.

“We’ve had tough camps, quality sparring, and strong preparation,” he said.

“Now it’s time to step into the ring, test ourselves, and show that Irish boxing remains a force on the world stage.”

 

We will be tracking the teams progress in the ring in Liverpool throughout the Championships, and will also have an announcement next week to do with matter outside of the ring…

 

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