OF all the Irish boxers in Busto Arsizio this week, none can hold a candle to the pressure Grainne Walsh has faced.
Being given a bye is always welcome, and she was the only member of the Irish team to receive one. But the other side of that coin is watching, and waiting.
Super-heavy Martin McDonagh boxed twice before the Offaly woman got anywhere near the ring. Three team-mates – Sean Mari, Jennifer Lehane and Aidan Walsh – had already fallen by the time she stepped between the ropes.
The opponent who would bring an end to Walsh’s six-day wait was no loosener to warm into the tournament either. The opposite in fact. Stefanie von Berge is the reigning European champion, and would have been fancied in most quarters to seal her Olympic spot in Busto Arsizio.
You want more? Okay. In the German’s corner was Eddie Bolger, the Wexford man with whom Walsh had trained for so many years at the start of her elite career before his move away from the Irish set-up.
Bolger knows her well enough for it to matter in boxing’s game of inches.
Sorry, but we’re not done yet. This might even be the biggest factor, because waiting back home, raring to go should the 28-year-old fail to claim one of the four quota spots at 66kg, are two World champions – Amy Broadhurst and Lisa O’Rourke.
Yet Walsh was able to park all of that and deliver a stunning performance to get her campaign up and running in impressive style. After losing a nip and tuck opener against the rangy Von Borge, the ante had to be upped.
Against a taller opponent, Walsh had to close the distance more quickly, and make it count when the opportunity arose.
“We tell her,” said Irish coach Zaur Antia, “head, body, head, head, then repeat.
“After the first round, we had no choice...”
In rounds two and three, that combination worked a treat time and again, swaying the judges in her favour by the time all was said and done.
“Time goes by so quick in there that it’s hard to tell,” said Walsh.
“I took a while to feel her out but once I listened, eventually, to the coaches... it’s just having to chomp down on the gumshield and dig in when times are tough.
“I’m small enough at 66, but I feel like I boxed at 69 for four years and I’ve carried the power down. My pressure, my power wore her down. It was a very close fight but I’m delighted and I feel I fully deserved the victory.
“I have such respect for her, it’s a shame we had to meet at such an early stage, but that’s the way it goes.”
Back in the warm-up room minutes later, Irish coach Damian Kennedy and Team USA’s main man, Billy Walsh, debrief. Bolger stands arms folded, nodding along in conversation, but somewhere else entirely as the bout is relived, blow by blow.
His boxer left the ring in tears – that’s how much all of this means as dreams are made and shattered in equal measure.
Having waited for so long to fight, Walsh is straight back into action on Saturday, taking on Kenya’s Frizo Asika in the last 16, and knowing two more wins will bring her to Paris this summer.
“To be honest, the first two days we were here before the draw, that was the hardest wait.
“There’s nothing around where we’re staying, it was pissing rain and everything - it reminded me of home a bit - but when we found out the draw, you find out what day you’re fighting.
“I was thinking what am I going to do until Friday, I’ve been just keeping myself busy, doing little things that I needed to do for myself; staying off social media and keeping the head right.
“It flew around thank God, and now we’re in again. One day at a time, one round at a time.”
Given the injuries and frustrations that have blighted the last three years of her career, it is no surprise that Walsh isn’t looking too far down the track.
It is only nine months since she was overlooked for a crack the European qualifier in Poland, but Broadhurst’s defeat to Rosie Eccles left the door ajar. Now is Walsh’s chance to burst right through.
“It’s mad, you fight with so many emotions,” she added, wiping sweat from her brow.
“A year ago I would’ve done anything to be in this position - that’s why I have to remind myself, even when I’m nervous walking out, this is what I wanted.
“To get what you want, you have to face up to it. I’m just delighted I put on a good performance today, I had God in my corner, the support of my family and friends in here... it means a lot.”
SCHEDULE
World Olympic qualifier, Busto Arsizio
Friday
Round of 32
51kg: D Moorehouse v T Cedeno (Venezuela) – afternoon session
57kg: J Gallagher v H Mohammed (India) – evening session
Saturday
92+kg round of 16: M McDonagh v D Latypov (Bahrain) – afternoon session
66kg round of 16: G Walsh v F Asiko (Kenya) – evening session
Sunday
80kg round of 16: K Cassidy v R Hovhannisyan (Armenia) – afternoon session