Boxing Ireland High Performance Director Jon Mackey is looking to the year ahead, which will include two key multi-games events.
One of his key priorities is to increase in the number of tournaments contested saying “We need to get boxing. We need to get more international exposure. We still have a young and developing team, we’re aware of that…Towards the end of the year and in to early next year, we’ll look at the selection process for picking the team that will go to the first Olympic qualifier in June, the European Games in Istanbul.
Jon also shared up-dates on the timeline for recruitment of a permanent Head Coach. Damian Kennedy, a sitting High Performance Coach, was appointed Interim Head Coach in December, following the retirement from Irish Boxing of Zauri Antia.
Jon says recruitment for the permanent Head Coach is scheduled to begin in the summer.
Another key priority for the High Performance Unit is the running of a series of International events, similar to the U23 Round Robin which was hosted by Antrim and Ulster in October 2025 as part of preparations for the European U23 Champions. This included Ireland, and Ulster Select, Hungary and GB. Jon says he is eager to talk to Central Council and the provincial units on hosting another such event in August of this year.
In the first installment of the Inside High Performance Series, Jon reflected on his first year in post – you can watch back here.