FORMER world and European champion Bernard Dunne is set to be confirmed as the Irish Athletic Boxing Association’s (IABA) new High Performance director.
In the coming days the IABA is expected to announce that 37-year-old Dunne will fill the post that has been vacant since Gary Keegan’s departure in 2008. He will be based at the national sports campus at Abbotstown.
It is understood that former Irish rugby coach Eddie O’Sullivan was also interviewed for the role.
The appointment of a new High Performance director is some welcome good news for the IABA following the high-profile departure of head coach Billy Walsh in 2015.
That was followed by a poor showing at the Rio Olympics that resulted in the IABA’s funding from the Irish Sports Council being slashed by 200,000 euros.
Dunne landed 13 titles as an amateur before going on to achieve world honours as a pro, his most famous night the 2009 defeat of Ricardo Cordoba at Dublin’s 02 Arena to take the WBA super-bantamweight strap.
Since hanging up his gloves in 2010, Dunne has completed a master’s degree in sport science and has been an integral part of the Dublin footballers’ backroom team under Jim Gavin.
Gavin asked Dunne to get involved after stepping up from the U21 job to the seniors in 2012, during which time the all-conquering Sky Blues have won four National League titles and three All-Irelands.
Given the intense nature of the High Performance role he is undertaking, working alongside current Irish head coach Zaur Antia, it is expected that Dunne will not continue in his role with the Dubs.
