Hi °C | Lo °C OLYMPIC champion Katie Taylor is set to defend her European Championship title in Ireland later this year.
If the fight goes ahead next October as part of the Women’s European Boxing Championships, it will be the first time the five-time Europe champion has fought for a title on home soil.
The Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) hopes to confirm that Ireland will host the Women’s European Boxing Championships within the next month, setting up the huge box office potential of Taylor fighting in Dublin. Ireland is believed to be the sole bidder for the competition.
An announcement was expected by the European Boxing Confederation (EUBC) in November but the decision was put on hold after internal shifts within the organisation
Having won the European Championships for the last five years, Taylor will be the favourite to retain her title in the lightweight division.
Last Saturday Taylor was crowned the Irish Independent Sportstar of the Year at a gala ceremony at the Westbury Hotel in Dublin.
The boxer is back in full training and has spoken of her desire to represent Ireland at 2016 Rio Olympics to defend her Olympic crown. She’s preparing to take to the ring again on February 24 in front of 2,000 people at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre in her first fight since the Olympics.
“I’m still only 26 and I feel I have things to prove and things to achieve in the sport,” she said. “I’m busy getting ready for the fight and it’s great to get back into training again properly.”
