HE was a classy boxer in his own punching pomp, but now JP Delaney is helping develop an impressive stable of amateur stars at Emerald BC – with Olympians Aidan and Michaela Walsh the latest to join forces with the west Belfast club.
Having also been involved with the Ulster High Performance unit in Jordanstown during recent years, Delaney has experience of working with some of the country’s top amateurs, and will be part of the Irish coaching team that heads for the European U22 Championships in Croatia next month.
The former Immaculata star is also in the shake-up for a role on John Conlan’s coaching team at this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Back in December Delaney was in the corner when Gerard French and Dominic Bradley landed Ulster elite titles, while the Tucker brothers – Kane and Jake – also train at Emerald under the experienced eye of Harry Hawkins.
The Tuckers look likely Commonwealth candidates at 80kg and 75kg while Swatragh man Bradley – Ulster champion and boxer of the tournament at 60 kilos – has dropped down to 57kg to try and claim his spot, after lightweight wasn’t included in the weight classes for Birmingham.
Damien Sullivan, who represented Team NI at the last Commonwealths four years ago, is training with Delaney as he bids to stake a claim for a heavyweight place at the Commonwealths, while the addition of the Walsh siblings – as well as father Damien as a coach – is a major boost for everybody at the club.
“Luckily enough I’ve been up in the High Performance the last few years, so I’ve been learning off the likes of John, Dee Kennedy,” said Delaney.
“I just want to keep learning, keep trying to improve, try and be the best coach I can be. I want to try and be sponge and take in everything.
“Having the likes of the Walshs there, that’ll rub off on everybody else, seeing how it’s done by some of the best about. Aidan’s an Olympic bronze medallist, Michaela’s established on the international stage – they’re two quality athletes, it’s great to have them onboard.
“I know the pair of them fairly well. I would’ve been on the Irish team with Michaela. Like, I remember going to a two week training camp in Germany, after each week they had a fight. Aidan was injured, knew he wouldn’t fight, but still went for the training camp.
“We were playing basketball and he couldn’t touch the hoop – I’d say he spent 10 or 15 minutes until he hit it. That just sums them up, they’re so competitive and driven.
“We probably have one of the best senior teams in the country at the minute, so there’s a great buzz about the club.”
And Delaney, who was Irish light-heavyweight champion in 2015, is loving the new path he has found in the sport since hanging up his gloves for good.
“It’s six years since I last fought,” said the 30-year-old.
“I was at the Mac from I was 12 but, I don’t know why, I wasn’t really dedicated enough. ‘Nugget’ [Gerry Nugent] was brilliant, a brilliant motivator and way ahead of the game in terms of intervals and things like that. All the stuff they’re doing now, Nugget was doing 15-20 years ago. That’s why the Mac boxers were always so fit.
“When I was zoned in, I was zoned in, but when I zoned out I wouldn’t be near the club for weeks or months. Eventually I threw the head up, but Seamy Deeds talked me into giving it another crack at Emerald.
“I won the Irish elites at the end of 2015, but then I got a bad injury to my elbow and that was it really. I remember going away with the Irish team to the Strandja tournament the February after, then to Russia for a training camp in April – any time we were doing anything, I couldn’t move my arm after.
“I ended up getting into an argument with one of the coaches, I remember it because it was 24th birthday, and I ended up sitting in the back of the car crying my eyes out because I just knew I wasn’t going to box again.
“Thankfully I found coaching not long after so, because I’m still involved in the sport, that fills the void with me not competing any more. As a coach, I’m totally dedicated, always in the club - I think I was meant to be a coach rather than a boxer.”
Meanwhile, Michaela Walsh is part of the Irish team that will head to this year’s Strandja tournament in Bulgaria, which runs from Sunday until February 28.
Olympic gold medallist Kellie Harrington is part of the panel, as are Commonwealth Games contenders Caitlin Fryers, Carly McNaul, JP Hale, Eugene McKeever, Amy Broadhurst and Thomas Maughan.
IRISH SQUAD
Ireland squad competing at Strandja tournament, February 20-28
F48kg: Shannon Sweeney; F50kg: Caitlin Fryers; F52kg: Carly McNaul; F57kg: Michaela Walsh; F60kg: Kellie Harrington; F63kg: Amy Broadhurst; F70kg: Christina Desmond; F75kg Aoife O’Rourke; 57kg: Adam Hession; 60kg: JP Hale; 63.5kg: Dean Clancy; 67kg: Eugene McKeever; 71kg: Luke Maguire; 80kg: Kelyn Cassidy; 92kg+: Thomas Maughan
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PACKED HOUSE FOR STELLAR SHOW AT SEAGOE HOTEL
A PACKED house at the Seagoe Hotel in Portadown was treated to some all-action bouts on a stacked semi-pro/white collar show last week.
Ryan Greene was the man behind the ‘Seagoe Takeover’, which featured aspiring boxers from his South Paw gym in Derrymacash amongst others as 13 fights thrilled the crowd.
Having boxed as an amateur and a pro, Greene has seen all sides of the game, and believes such shows offer an opportunity for lifelong ambitions to be fulfilled.
“At my gym, we get people from all different backgrounds,” he said.
“I have Traveller lads, lads in the Orange Order, lads from nationalist areas in Craigavon and Lurgan, there’s one lad with a speech impediment, another who is hearing impaired, some lads suffering with drug or drink addictions.
“None of them are going to be world champions, but they’re in a good place and it is good for their physical and mental health.
“The number one thing with the shows is we don’t want anyone getting hurt, or anybody to be over-matched. They’re all wearing 16 ounce gloves, some of them are wearing headguards, but for a lot of them it’s a box tick – like jumping out of an airplane. It’s something they’ve always wanted to do.
“I get a lot out of it too, and thankfully everybody had a great night at the Seagoe. Hopefully there will be other shows down the line too.”
In recent months Greene asked the legendary John Breen down to South Paw, and some words of wisdom from the renowned Belfast trainer only enhanced their love of the sport.
“It meant so much to them,” said Green.
“John came down for a couple of Sunday sessions, there was maybe 30 boys there, and he was brilliant with them. There’s people qualified in this and that but they don’t have the life skills of a man like that, so it was invaluable really.
“Men like John are unsung heroes, with the knowledge they have to pass on. Everybody took something away from those sessions.”
