BRENDAN Irvine hasn’t come out on the wrong side of too many decisions during his fledgling career at senior level but, any time he has, lessons have been learnt.
Even if he feels hard done by, the fight has been worked through again in his head, then in the gym, righting wrongs as he goes. Welcome to the world of the ultimate perfectionist.
Last month, the St Paul’s orthodox fell at the first hurdle while competing at the Strandja tournament in Bulgaria when pitted against 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Vincenzo Picardi.
The experienced Italian got the nod from the judges and, although Irvine felt comfortable between the ropes against his decorated opponent, he admits he would approach the fight differently if it came around again.
“I felt like I was in control, the coach did too, I thought I won near enough every round,” recalls the 19-year-old.
“But that’s just the way it goes. He’s won an Olympic bronze, a World bronze, European silver, so he’s been about.
“I’ve thought about the fight a good bit, what I would do differently. You have to learn from those experiences, good or bad. If I fought him again I would stand with him more, middle distance.
“I wouldn’t give him space, I’d stand and trade a bit more.”
Irvine will get the opportunity to renew acquaintances with Picardi sooner than expected after flying out to Assisi in Italy with the rest of the Irish elite squad yesterday, where they will take part in a week-long training camp alongside the Italians and several other top nations.
It is all part of Ireland’s preparation for the European Olympic qualifiers, which get under way on April 10 – and Irvine is one of those daring to dream about a place at this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio.
Belfast’s Michaela Walsh, golden girl Katie Taylor, Dean Walsh, Michael O’Reilly and 2012 London Olympian Darren O’Neill will also travel to the Turkish city of Samsun aiming to join Paddy Barnes, Michael Conlan, Steven Donnelly and Joe Ward on the Irish team bound for Brazil.
Some good came of Irvine’s early exit in Bulgaria as he had the chance to spend time spying on potential flyweight opponents.
Irvine only made the step up to 52kg because Barnes had already sealed the light-fly spot and, with only three qualifying from his weight class, competition is intense.
“I’m not even ranked at 52,” said Irvine, who won a 49kg silver medal at last year’s European Games.
“But I feel comfortable at the weight – I’m not too light, not too heavy. I was watching a couple when I was out in Bulgaria, the guys who are around the top spots.
“At the training camp in Italy there’ll be a couple around the same weight so it should be good. Everybody’s in the same boat – we all have our eyes on the Olympic Games, and everyone’s out to get it.”
Turkey does not represent the last chance saloon for the Irish hopefuls, as there is another European qualifier in June, but Irvine would rather take care of business sooner rather than later.
He admits he has had a look at the dates of the 52kg competition in Rio and, until someone tells him otherwise, Irvine believes he will be in Brazil.
“I’d like to get it out of the road here so I could focus on my training, but it’s going to be tough,” said Irvine.
“It’s like letting a dog of a leash – you hold it back, hold it back and then let it go. We’re all ready to go and hopefully we can get a few more over the line. It’d be good to have good, strong team at the Olympics.
“Friends are talking about booking holidays in the summer and that sort of thing – I don’t even want to think about holidays. My main focus is getting to the Olympics. I don’t want to think about holidays, I don’t want to think about anything. It’s the Olympics and that’s it.”
