A 14-strong Irish squad is about to step into the European Boxing Championships.
We’re joined today on the Sport for Business podcast by Jon Mackey, performance director of Boxing Ireland, to talk through how the programme targets this tournament as the year’s major benchmark and a clear measuring stick on the road to Olympic qualification.
From travel and training intensity to exposure to world-class opponents, Jon explains why learning accelerates when you put athletes in tough rooms and tougher rings.
We also get into what’s changed behind the scenes over the past 18 months: evolving coaching structures, evidence-informed training methods, a more objective selection policy, and the work of reconnecting high performance with the wider boxing community.
Jon shares how added staffing and better stability let the programme focus on what actually moves performance forward, while a new head coach recruitment process aims to set the tone for a busy year that includes World Championships and key qualifiers.
The conversation also lands on the emotional heartbeat of Irish boxing, reflecting on a weekend that put the sport firmly in the national consciousness and the legacy of Katie Taylor and other Irish champions.
If you care about Irish sport, high-performance systems, and what it really takes to compete at European level, this one’s for you.
Boxing Ireland is a full member of Sport for Business.
If you would like to be part of the Sport for Business community and see your organisation in our content, on our stages, and in the conversation happening every day around the commercial world of Irish Sport, email us today and let’s see what is possible.
Image Credit: Sport for Business
ABOUT SPORT FOR BUSINESS
Sport for Business is Ireland’s leading platform focused on the commercial, strategic and societal impact of sport. It connects decision-makers across governing bodies, clubs, brands, agencies, and public institutions through high-quality content, events, and insights.
Sport for Business explores how sport drives economic value, participation, inclusion and national identity, and how your story can be part of ours.
Through analysis, storytelling and convening the sector, it helps leaders understand trends, share best practices, and make better-informed decisions. It positions sport not just as entertainment but as a vital contributor to Ireland’s social and economic fabric.
Find out more about becoming a member today.
Or sign up for our Daily Sport for Business Snapshot email bulletins to get a flavour of the material we cover.
Sign up for our News Bulletins here.
