Olympic, World and European boxing champion Katie Taylor is set to fight in Ireland in a major championship for the first time, later this year.
She will be favourite to win the lightweight title, having won the five previous European belts in the division.
Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) representatives hope to meet European officials next month to ratify Ireland’s hosting of the Women’s European Boxing Championships.
An announcement on what country would host was due to be made at the end of November last year by the European Boxing Confederation (EUBC) but the decision has been put back, in part due to a political shift in the organisation.
Irish boxing officials attended a meeting in Russia before Christmas where the hosting of the championships was copperfastened. However, following the December resignation of European president Humbert Furgoni, Italian Franco Falicinelli was installed.
It is believed Ireland is sole bidder for the championships. If the EUBC confirms Ireland as hosts, the IABA will seek Government funds to stage the event. The competition is scheduled to take place in October and is expected to be a major draw given Taylor’s popularity.
The boxer is back in full training and has reaffirmed her desire to continue winning championships at the highest level between now and the Rio Olympics.
“I’m still only 26 and I feel I have things to prove and things to achieve in the sport,” she said late last year.
