OUTSIDE of the 2004 grudge match between snooker stars Quinten Hann and Mark King, boxing and the green baize have rarely been regular sparring partners – but Ballymena’s Rory Kinney hopes to break the mould after beginning his fledgling ring career with a bang.
The 25-year-old is a former British champion pool player at universities level, coming through a field of over 600 students to take that title, and represented Northern Ireland at the 2019 European Nations Cup of Pool in Cyprus.
However, when the Covid-19 pandemic came Kinney contacted former world champion Eamon Loughran about improving his fitness, and it soon became clear that he had the raw ability to make a fist of it between the ropes.
After just one white collar bout, Loughran convinced Kinney to enter last month’s Ulster senior championships, where he stopped two opponents in the final round on the way to claiming the 80kg open crown.
“To be honest, I just wanted to train and get my head right.
“That was probably 18 months or so ago, obviously I wanted to get a bit fitter and healthier too. A mate of mine was over doing a couple of sessions outdoors – he definitely wasn’t going to box, he was just doing it for fitness, but I had done a bit of boxing back when I was 11.
“Eventually Eamon said to me one day ‘you should box, you should be fighting’. So I decided to give it another go.”
As well as pool and snooker, Kinney also played Gaelic football alongside Loughran’s son Caolan with All Saints and turned out for several soccer sides around the Ballymena area.
No matter what he turned his hand to, Loughran is convinced, Kinney would have found a way to excel.
“Rory’s a lovely big lad and he’s one of those boys who’s just an all-round athlete,” said the former WBO world welterweight champion.
“He’s not at it that long, only had three fights, but he’s one of those guys who could do great at any sport. He just needs to keep at and focus on the goal. I’m looking forward to seeing his potential.”
Kinney didn’t follow boxing before lacing up gloves last year, but is now wishing he had stuck at it after that earlier stint.
Moving straight into an Ulster senior championships was a bold move for a man with so little experience, yet he is now eyeing up next month’s Ulster elites, which will form part of the selection process for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
That will be another big step up but, with the faith Loughran has shown, Kinney is only too happy to keep on learning the tools of the trade when any opportunities arise.
“If it wasn’t Eamon telling me ‘you can do it’, I probably would wonder [about entering the Ulster seniors], but he has given me the belief, big time.
“Honestly, I wish I’d started years ago. I’m loving it. Obviously it’s a lot more rewarding, physically, and like all other sports it’s good for your mental health too.
“The physical side, there’s nothing easy about it, especially training with Eamon. I’ve a lot to learn, I know that, but he seems to think I’ve taken to it pretty well.
“I’ll just keep listening to Eamon and see where it takes me.”
WALKER SET TO MAKE PRO MOVE
KURT Walker’s much-anticipated move into the professional ranks will be confirmed later this week – and the Tokyo Olympian leaves behind some big boots to fill at featherweight.
The Canal counter-puncher landed gold medals at the European Union Championships and the 2019 European Games to consolidate his spot as Irish and continental number one, having bided his time when Michael Conlan was top dog at the weight.
Walker went on to qualify for last summer’s Tokyo Games, just missing out on a medal despite some superb performances which are sure to have caught the eye of promoters in the pro game.
The 26-year-old got Ireland up and running with a hard fought victory over Spaniard Jose Quiles Brotons before advancing to the quarter-final after a thrilling split-decision 4-1 win over Uzbekistan’s gold medal favourite and world champion Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov.
Despite bowing out on the narrowest of split decision defeats to America’s Duke Ragan in the last eight, Walker left Tokyo with his reputation enhanced, and has the skill-set to make a splash in the pro game.
Walker was entered into September’s Irish Elite Championships but didn’t box, with European U22 silver medallist Adam Hession taking the 57 kilo crown. Hession would go on to represent Ireland at the recent World Championships.
Had he remained amateur, Walker would have been seen as a strong contender for gold at next year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. No doubt Ulster head coach John Conlan will be keeping a close eye on that division at next month’s Ulster elites as the chase to succeed the Lisburn man heats up.
WOMEN'S WORLDS LIKELY TO BE POSTPONED
THE women’s world championships, which were due to take place in Istanbul next month, look likely to be postponed until next spring due to concerns over Covid-19 in the Turkish capital.
The president of AIBA, Umar Kremlyov, confirmed that the organisation’s board of directors had considered the issue and sought the views of member countries, including hosts Turkey.
He pointed out that some countries had closed their borders due to Covid-19 and stressed that the safety of boxers and officials was the top priority.
A final decision is expected in the coming days, though it has also been suggested that a decision has already been taken to reschedule the event until next spring.
The Irish squad, including Olympic champion Kellie Harrington and Belfast’s Michaela Walsh, were training in Sheffield last week in preparation for the championship, and had been due to travel later this month to another training camp in Turkey.
KING BILLY DOES THE JOB FOR USA
FORMER Irish head coach Billy Walsh led USA to its first World championship gold medals in 14 years after newcomers Jahmal Harvey and Rahim Gonzales topped the podium in Belgrade at the weekend.
With silver for Roscoe Hill and Omari Jones, that four medal haul marked the USA’s best finish at the Worlds since 1999, when it won four gold medals, and comes off the back of a strong performance at the Tokyo Olympics.
All four paid tribute to Walsh in the aftermath, with the Wexford man – who is remaining Stateside until at least the next Olympics in Paris 2024 - saying: “It’s been a fantastic World championships for Team USA, a whole new crew, a whole young team.
“They showed the spirit of America, they showed they want to be the best team in the world and we’re very close to being that.”
