O'Neill fears boxing 'downfall' ahead of crunch IABA vote

Irish Olympian Darren O'Neill has warned there could be a "downfall" in boxing if the Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) does not accept recommended reforms at an extraordinary AGM in Roscommon this Sunday.

A 75% majority in favour in the relevant vote will be required to pass motions, with the stakes incredibly high.

Earlier on Thursday, Minister of State for Sport and the Gaeltacht Jack Chambers said there will be an immediate cut to funding and further sanctions throughout the year if the IABA does not accept recommended reforms.

The minister met with IABA on Wednesday night after months of controversy surrounding reforms needed in the organisation in the wake of the resignation of the high performance unit director Bernard Dunne.

Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, he said the sport's current success is being overshadowed by governance difficulties and the dysfunction identified in the McNiece report, and that there is an opportunity for members to embrace reform.

Minister Chambers added that if they embrace the reforms, there will be monthly meetings with Sport Ireland and a three-month process around developing an implementation plan. If they do not accept the reforms, there will be immediate cuts.

Back in May Dunne left his role as the IABA's high performance director. His exit stemmed from a complaint he lodged against two volunteers in October 2021 after an unsigned SWOT analysis critical of his performance was circulated at board level prior to the Tokyo Games, where Ireland's boxers would deliver a gold (Kellie Harrington) and a bronze (Aidan Walsh).

Speaking to RTÉ Sport, O'Neill - who fought for Ireland at the 2012 London Games - warned that the sport's very existence is at stake ahead of Sunday's