“After long deliberation and great sadness, I feel I have no alternative but to hand in my resignation as honorary secretary of IABA.” Those were the words penned by IABA Honorary Secretary Al Morris in stepping down from his role as the crisis engulfing the sport deepens.
The Board of the IABA will meet tomorrow night at the National Stadium to try to resolve their split, with two Chairs currently claiming legitimacy.
Sport Ireland, with the support of Minister for State for Sport Patrick O’Donovan has threatened to withhold the balance of core funding previously assigned to the sport if matters are not resolved by a deadline of June 30th.
Read More: Stuck in the Middle, Sport Ireland’s Role
Morris’s words suggest an emotional departure on his part and a seeming long way to go before the issues can be resolved.
“Over the past two years, the IABA has gone downhill and the fun and enjoyment I have got from my love of boxing has gone due to the politics, ego, and power trips of some in the organisation.
“The last straw is this “Them and Us” attitude coming into our sport with Central Council, CEO and board of directors filtering down to all in the sport, and this I blame on the leaders who are not putting boxing first.”
“All the great work by coaches, officials, and administrators at club, county board, and provincial level is being undermined by the people who should be bringing everyone together but are only dividing for their egos, and as figureheads are a disgrace to sport. The hard-working volunteers deserve better leadership.
“All are of equal fault and should step down in the interest of our sport for the benefit of our great young boxers as well as the hundreds of volunteers who deserve better.
“I intend to stay in the sport I love and shall always be working in my local club and will continue to help in boxing wherever I can.”
The Irish men’s team is currently in the Ukraine ahead of the European Amateur Championships which get under way this weekend.
We are all set for this Wednesday June 14th for Unleashing Content where we will hear how Red Bull have built a global media brand on sports and cultural content, how the world of media is shaping up to new forms of content, how the GAA is managing its own video ‘clip’ content, how the value of content is measured and how athletes fit into the new picture. See the full timetable and secure your place here.
