Eventful times for the Irish Amateur Boxing Association - a State-funded redeveloped National stadium, the loss of its top Cuban coach and commitment to hosting the prestigious World Championships at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast, starting tomorrow. The invasion of the world's best amateur fighters - more than 400 of them - began midweek with the arrival of the formidable US squad.
The Americans, Cubans, Russians and Nigerians are, not surprisingly, among some of the 66 competing nations feeling sufficiently reassured to arrive here with representatives at all 12 weight classes. Ireland's full complement from light fly to super heavy is presumably due to home advantage.
Ian Irwin, who coached Audley Harrison to gold medal success in Sydney, is in charge of a nine-strong England team. Courtney Fry, Britain's only other Olympian in Sydney, is included at light heavy.
The influential presence of Cruz's 6 feet 5 inches frame on the rings apron in Barcelona as Michael Carruth sought his gold medal and later as Wayne McCullough boxed for silver is now a defining part of Ireland's boxing imagery. Acceptance of his resignation appears untimely.
Under the improvised guidance of a well-chosen restructured back-room team the Irish boxers have worked out well over the past month at their Limerick University base. A sense of self belief is very much in evidence throughout the squad.
The Irish boxers and officials, no less than their counterparts from any of the strongest nations will be focused on tomorrow's draw. At championships of this calibre, medal positions can sometimes be virtually decided by the order in which names emerge from the hat.
The Cubans display exceptional strengths at fly, bantam, light and light welter. Representing them at these weights are seasoned medal campaigners in Guillermo Rigondeaux, the gold medal winner at the Sydney Olympics; lightweight Mario Kindelan, the reigning world champion and gold medal winner in Sydney; light welter Diogenes Luna, another medal winner in Sydney; and flyweight Maikro Romero, who has moved up a weight since earning medals at the last world championships and at the Sydney Olympics.
Cunningham, Damien McKenna (Holy Family, Drogheda) Noel Monteith (Dockers Belfast) and Michael Kelly (Dealgan and Army) will not wish to trade punches with these gifted operators too early.
Ulster president Pat McCrory suggests that the Cubans "will have tougher competition on their hands at these championships than they faced in the Olympics".
