Posted online: Apr 2nd, 2008

Illies welterweight William McLaughlim must play a tense waiting game to see if he will be on the plane to Athens this Saturday.

The Golden Gloves boxer (21) won a box-off last month to book his spot as Ireland’s representative at the last Olympic qualifier before Beijing.

But the club were rocked with the news that the Irish Amateur Boxing Association had arranged a further decider between McLaughlin and national champion Roy Sheehan, who missed the box-off after breaking his hand in training.

The fight is set to take place this Friday, but is now in doubt after the Golden Gloves club this week sent a solicitor’s letter to the IABA arguing that their boxer had rightfully earned his place.

Club spokesman Eamon Duffy told us: “We’re waiting now to hear their response, but as far as we’re concerned Willie will be on the plane to Greece on Saturday.

“He won the box-off, and the circular sent out earlier this year clearly states that the winner of the box-off would be eligible to go to the qualifier.

“As far as I’m aware, Roy Sheehan still had the pins in his hand yesterday, so how a boxer who hasn’t thrown a punch in almost two months is expected to go out and fight in Athens is beyond me.”

IABA chiefs were set to have an emergency meeting tonight to discuss the matter, but it may be the case that the Illies club’s legal shot across the bow will see them back down.

Said Duffy: “We never agreed to a box-off between Roy and Willie. The first official word I got about it was on Saturday, and that was after it was all over TV3 on the Friday.

“Willie has been down at the training camp in Dublin and is raring to go, and it’s only right he is given the place after he earned it fair and square.”