Irish boxer after Olympic place

Press, 2 May 1984, Page 52

Irish boxer after Olympic place

By

JOHN COFFEY

Sam Storey, the Irish light middleweight amateur boxing champion, is expected to complete a successful Olympic Games selection campaign, and extend his proud international record at the Richmond Workingmen’s Club tomorrow evening. The British Olympic boxing team is to be announced next week-end, and the younger of the Storey brothers at present in Christchurch is regarded as a certain inclusion in the boxing squad. Sam Storey, aged 20, is unbeaten in 14 international bouts and will be an awesome opponent for his considerably less experienced New Zealand rival, Stephen Nicol (Manawatu), tomorrow night.

The Storey family is strongly represented among the Irish tourists. The team trainer, Gerry Storey sen. was in Christchurch for the Commonwealth Games in 1974 and has been in the Irish corner in subsequent Commonwealth tournaments, three Olympic Games and numerous world and European contests. His other son, Gerry junior, aged 22, is to fight Rocky Fou (Wellington) in the middleweight bout. Fou has replaced the injured Perry Rackley (Nelson), and he, too, has a daunting assignment against the Irish national title-holder.

Although formidable competition is available to the Irish in Britain and Europe, squads from that country frequently travel to the United States.

“We will box any nation and every nation,” said Mr Storey yesterday. The incentive of regular overseas tournaments assists in turning the thoughts of Ireland’s best boxers away from professional approaches. Sam Storey can count two Americans among his victims, and the Irish manager, Jack Monaghan, described the light middleweight as his country’s “most technically accomplished boxer.” Mr Monaghan, the treasurer of the Ulster association and also the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games council, believes the present visit could lead to home-and-away internationals with New Zealand. The invitation from New Zealand was one of several received after the Commonwealth cham-

pionships in Belfast last year.

The “fighting Irish” have long been held in high regard in both amateur and professional boxing. “The Irish are noted for their boxing ability, skills and strength,” said Mr Storey. “Boxing is our strongest sport at Commonwealth, European and Olympic levels and always has been.”

In addition to the Storey brothers, the Irish bantamweight, Roy Nash, and light welterweight, Billy McClean, have won full international honours in the past. With them in New Zealand are three 18-year-old Ulster senior titleholders, Brendan Lowe (featherweight), Brian Catney (lightweight) and Brendan O’Hara (welterweight).

“They are all champions and good, strong boys. They thrive on competition and the travelling will not worry them," said Mr Storey. But Mr Storey also has a healthy respect for New Zealand competitors — “I have watched their progress with interest since I was here in 1974.” The New Zealand invitation team to meet the Irish tomorrow night comprises Johnny Wallace (Southland, bantamweight), Peter Warren (Southland, featherweight), Eldon Clifton (Otago, lightweight), Tom Turner (Dannevirke, light welterweight), Paul Graham (Canterbury, welterweight), Stephen Nicol (Manawatu, light middleweight) and Rocky Fou (Wellington, middleweight).