CONFUSION is being heaped on confusion within the Irish Amateur Boxing Association in the build-up to the international match against Sweden in the National Stadium on Friday night.
Following the resignation of the treasurer Martin Power after a recent meeting and the threatened resignation of other members of the officer board, a further meeting of the standing committee was called for tonight.
The agenda for that meeting stated that it was being called "to try to resolve the present impasse in Irish Amateur Boxing" but that has now been called off because of the illness of the president, Nicky White from Wexford, who has been under severe pressure because of his attendance at an unofficial tournament in Wales.
His attendance at that tournament sparked off protests from the official Welsh body, the WABA, and in this they were supported by the Scottish Boxing Association which is also having a rift at administrative level.
The incident in Wales sparked off the resignation of Power at the last meeting of the IABA Standing Committee and subsequent threats of resignation. These threats still stand but a meeting to discuss the matter will not now take place for at least another week.
In the meantime, the Swedes are sending a strong side for Friday's international. Among the leading figures are flyweight Frank Mtabinga, who won the national title in 1995 and '96, bantamweight Daniel Olsson, who was beaten by Damaen Kelly from Belfast in this year's European championships, the reigning featherweight title holder John H Larbi and the light-welter champion Tonton Samakala.
The Irish team includes Cathal O'Grady, the European junior heavyweight champion who also represented Ireland at the Atlanta Olympics. As well as O'Grady, National champions in action are Jim Prior (fly), Damien MeKenna (bantam) and Neil Gough (welter).
There are 12 bouts on the bill including three at light-welterweight, two at welter, two at light-heavy and two at heavy.
Britain's Commonwealth middleweight champion Robert McCracken kept his world title hopes alive at Dudley last night when he scored a one-sided points victory over durable American Glen Odem. McCracken has now won all 29 of his professional contests.
