BOXING:World and European champion Katie Taylor will meet Finland's Eva Walstrom in a repeat of the 2005 European Championship final in Dublin next month.
They go head-to-head at the National Stadium on February 2nd, which is also finals night for the 2007 National Senior Championships.
Taylor, from the St Fergal's club in Bray, won the 2005 decider against Walstrom and will fancy her chances.
The senior championships, which begin on January 19th, have an added significance as they will be one of the first hurdles toward what could be eventual qualification for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The middleweight section is particularly competitive, with Darren O'Neill from Paulstown club in Kilkenny and Darren Sutherland from St Saviour's club in Dublin eying up glory.
Meanwhile, the Russian senior team have accepted an invitation to fight in Ireland on February 9th and 11th.