THE IRISH public are to have a glimpse of twice World and three-times European champion Katie Taylor in the ring. The Bray lightweight will face America’s quaintly named Queen Underwood at the National Stadium in Dublin tomorrow night. The women will meet as part of the first leg of the Ireland-USA men’s senior amateur international.
It is a welcome fight for Taylor, who will also perform on the undercard of Bernard Dunne’s World title challenge with, Ricardo Cordoba, in Dublin’s O2 Arena on March 21st.
The women join a star-studded cast as two of Ireland’s three Olympic medallists are included in the home team. Ten of last week’s Elite National champions are also involved in the 11-man panel. Olympic bronze winner Darren Sutherland has since embarked on a professional career.
Nine-time senior champion Ken Egan leads the team as Irish captain and Beijing finalist, with bronze medal winner Paddy Barnes also taking his place in the light flyweight division.
The USA team travelled to Dublin yesterday from their training camp in Colorado Springs and have arrived with current world champion Rau’shee Warren at flyweight, who faces newly-crowned Irish champion Declan Geraghty. Featherweight Raynall Williams is also a Beijing Olympics veteran and he will face Irish champion Carl Frampton.
Light-welterweight Philip Sutcliffe is also included in the Irish team having beaten Olympian John Joe Joyce in the final of last week’s Irish championships. Dubliner Sutcliffe stopped the St Michael’s Athy fighter in the surprise result of the night.
The nations meet again at the Arch Centre in Athy, Kildare, on Sunday night with bouts beginning at 7.30pm at both venues.
IRELAND: Women- 60kg: K Taylor(Ireland) v Q Underwood(USA). Men- P Barnes(light-flyweight); D Geraghty(flyweight); J J Nevin(bantamweight); C Frampton(featherweight); R Hickey(lightweight); P Sutcliffe(light-welterweight); W McLoughlin(welterweight); D O'Neill(middleweight); K Egan(light-heavyweight); C Sheehan(heavyweight); A Crampton(super-heavyweight).
UNITED STATES- L Byrd(light-flyweight); R Warren(flyweight); E Garza(bantamweight); R Williams(featherweight); TBA(lightweight); C Watson(light-welterweight); E Fowler/J Starks(welterweight); A Whitfield(middleweight); S Shabazz(light-heavyweight); P Koon(heavyweight); M Hunter(super-heavyweight).
