Katie Taylor Wins AIBA Best Boxer Awards

Friday, 08 January 2010 00:00

Katie Taylor, who claimed her fourth European boxing title on the trot in the Ukraine last year, picked up the Best Boxer award and also best EU Team, while European Union middleweight champion Darren O'Neill collected the Best Senior award.

Meanwhile, the Geesala BC did the double after being presented with the Best Club and Best Coach awards.
Former Irish senior champion Michael Carruth, a gold medal winner at the 1992 Olympic in Barcelona, was inducted into the IABA Hall of Fame.
Uniquely, Carruth now joins his father Austin, also an inductee into the IABA Hall of Fame.
John Joe Nevin, Katie Taylor and the entire Irish European Union Championships squad claimed the top awards as the IABA celebrated another outstanding year at their Annual Awards night at the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel in Dublin tonight.
A sold-out auditorium also saw AIBA World Junior champion Joe Ward and European Youth champion Jason Quigley honoured.
Up and coming stars Victor Medveduic and Gerard Whitehouse were back on top of the podium following their bronze medal wins at the European Schoolboy Championships in Anapa,Russia in 2009.
Glean prospect, Patrick  Gallagher. who won National U/21 and Intermediate titles last year, got the verdict as the Best U/21 and Rob Gorman was Best Intermediate.
Talented young Cavan and Ryston clubmen Martin Casey and Dylan Carr shared the Best Boy award.  Paul McMahon scooped the best R&J award.
ABA AWARDS WINNERS

Katie Taylor (Bray) & 2009 EU Team

Best Boxer

Katie Taylor (Bray)

Ann Abette International Achievemrnt Award

John Joe Nevin (Cavan)

Senior International Achievement Award

Declan Geraghty (Dublin Docklands)

John Joe Nevin (Cavan)

David Oliver Joyce (St Michael's Athy)

Eric Donovan (St Michael's Athy)

Philip Sutcliffe (Crumlin)

Willie McLaughlin (Illies GG)

Darren O'Neill (Paulstown)

Ken Egan (Neilstown)

Con Sheehan (Clonmel)

Schoolboy & Cadet International Achievement Awards

Jason Quigley (Finn Valley)

Gary Molloy (Moate)

Joe Ward (Moate)

Charlie Haggerty (Golden Cobra)

Michael Reilly (Drimnagh)

Bernard Roe (Dublin Docklands)

Victor Medveduic (Tramore)

Ger Whitehouse (Bracken)

Best Boy

Martin Casey (Carlow)

Dylan Carr (Ryston)

Best Youth

Jason Quigley (Finn Valley)

Best Junior

Joe Ward (Moate)

Best U/21

Patrick Gallagher (Gleann)

Best Intermediate

Rob Gorman (Bracken)

Best Senior

Darren O'Neill (Paulstown)

Best Club

Geesala

Best Coach

Coaching staff at Geesala

Best Referee & Judge

Paul McMahon (Antrim)

Hall of Fame

Michael Carruth (Drimnagh)

Award for Services to Boxing

Nicky White (St Joseph's)

Speaking at tonight's Awards Ceremony, IABA President Dominic O'Rourke said that once again Irish boxers were punching above their weight at home and abroad.
President's Address:
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome here tonight to this splendid venue, The Louis Fitzgerald Hotel, on this our Annual Awards Night. This, our 9th Awards night, gives us the opportunity to pay homage to the men & women, boys and girls of this great Association who brought such outstanding honour to their Clubs, Counties, Province and Country by their efforts here at home in our unique National Stadium,  the home of Amateur Boxing, and in many Provincial venues and in the major venue throughout the World.
This year again has been particularly a most successful year for our very talented and World renowned boxers. To list some of the brilliant achievements is a matter of great pride and inspiration to me as President of the IABA.
(President lists major honours won - AIBA World Senior Championships Milan (Bronze). AIBA World Junior Championships Armenia (Gold) EU Championships Denmark (Three gold,  three silver, three bronzeand team of the tournament award). European Union Women's Championships Bulgaria (Gold) European  Women's Championships Ukraine (Gold) European Youth Championships Poland/Germany (Gold) European Schoolboy Championships (Two bronze) AIBA President's Cup  Azerbaijan (silver).
"That's just a sample of the success achieved by our dedicated and deeply committed boxers. It is fitting that we celebrate those victories in style and that is the sole reason we are here tonight. It is not a night for long speeches but it does afford us the opportunity to come together as a 32 County sport that continually punches above its weight to bring back the results we can all be justly proud of.
"I pay tribute to every club in the country and the very many coaches who give so much of their time in molding these young people, starting them as young as 8 and bringing them through proper care and attention to County, Provincial and National Championships.
"I pay tribute also to your High Performance Team led by Head Coach Billy Walsh and ably assisted by Zuar Antia, Jim Moore and the many coaches who travel to Dublin to assist in this essential and truly successful programme.
"I sincerely hope that you all enjoy this celebration and I thank you for your support and company."
IABA President