Irish Boxing Coach Zaur Antia Honored for 22 Years of Success

The Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) is bidding farewell to Zaur Antia, the head of coaching who has profoundly impacted Irish boxing over his 22-and-a-half-year tenure. His contributions have been celebrated by many, including Kenneth Egan, one of the ten Irish boxers who secured Olympic medals under Antia’s guidance.

During a heartfelt tribute on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Egan reflected on Antia’s role in shaping the high-performance program that led to a remarkable achievement of 154 medals at the elite level. Egan, who won a silver medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, emphasized the significant influence Antia had on the success of Irish boxing, stating, “Without Zaur, I don’t think the high performance would have been as successful as it was.”

Egan shared fond memories of his first encounter with Antia, who joined the IABA as the new technical coach in 2003 under the leadership of Billy Walsh. Initially, Antia’s limited proficiency in English made him appear shy and reserved. Yet, once he began demonstrating boxing techniques, Egan was captivated by his expertise. “I thought I was quite good before he landed,” Egan recounted. “But watching him move and try and speak to us about boxing opened my eyes.”

Over the years, Egan and Antia developed a strong working relationship. Egan admired Antia’s ability to simplify the complexities of boxing, describing him as a “fantastic coach.” He noted the camaraderie between Antia and Walsh, highlighting their dynamic partnership that contributed to the team’s achievements. Egan remarked on Antia’s sense of humor and his pride in his Georgian heritage, often engaging in light-hearted banter about cultural differences, such as bread and dogs.

Despite his roots in Georgia, Antia became increasingly integrated into Irish culture. Egan noted, “Over the last 20 years he has become more Irish and he’s been very proud to represent Ireland across many different championships, whether it’s Europeans, worlds, or Olympic Games.”

Antia’s coaching style was characterized by his dedication to training sessions, often becoming so engrossed that Walsh had to remind him to pace himself. “He would stay on that floor for hours,” Egan explained, adding that Antia kept a meticulous record of his coaching methods in a small notebook, showcasing his professionalism and commitment to the sport.

Egan also credited Antia for establishing vital connections that allowed Irish athletes to train internationally. He stated, “With the language barrier, he got us into Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine. That’s when we really started to learn about what we needed to do to compete at the highest level.” Antia’s respect among coaches in these countries opened doors for training opportunities that were previously inaccessible.

As the IABA prepares to move forward without Antia, his legacy in Irish boxing is firmly established. Egan concluded, “He was well respected and welcomed into these places. We would have never got in there without Zaur.” The boxing community will undoubtedly feel the void left by Antia’s departure, but his influence on the sport will be felt for years to come.