Olympic glory the only prize still eluding Taylor

BOXING NEWS: Gavin Cummiskeytalks to the world champion on her happy homecoming

BILLY WALSH, loitering just outside the hysteria that surrounded two-time world champion Katie Taylor as she was embraced by euphoric family and friends at the arrivals gate of Dublin airport, will be asked this question repetitively in the countdown to Christmas. Remember, the awards season is almost upon us.

"Yeah, it has been the most successful year ever with regards medal hauls," said the Irish Olympic boxing coach.

"Really, the last five years, it has been the culmination of a lot of hard work. The teams have really been performing. They are all gaining belief off each other, the snowball effect. The attitude has become: if they can do it, I can do it.

"Katie has been leading the way the past couple of years. She has been under immense pressure to repeat what she did two years ago. I don't think anybody has ever done it - retain a world title."

Walsh showed up early yesterday morning to congratulate the 22-year-old Bray native after her 30-hour long-haul flight from Ningbo city in eastern China, where on Saturday night she retained the world title with a convincing 13-2 points win over local girl Cheng Dong.

Despite her latest success and being capped by the Republic of Ireland in soccer, Katie Taylor is not yet a household name. This probably requires that Ireland's most influential Olympic politician Pat Hickey ensures women's boxing gets adopted for the London Games in 2012.

The sport's lack of profile has led to obvious questions about the standard of Taylor's opponents.

"All I can tell you is Katie's standard is very high," said Walsh. "She trains with our senior male team, the team that went to the European championships. She sparred with those guys and gave them as good as she got.

"Women's boxing is improving all the time . . . China, all over Asia. They are looking towards the Olympic Games in 2012 and trying to get prepared for that.

"Katie is ahead of the posse at the moment. She's a phenomenal talent. Just a very natural, gifted girl. A powerful girl and very dedicated. Never takes anybody for granted. She has beaten a lot of these girls before. Every time she goes to meet them it is a fresh page. Mentally, she is really strong. An exceptional talent.

"Please God, three weights will be allowed into the Olympic Games so she can show she is pound-for-pound the best boxer in the world."

To say she is comfortable with all the media attention wouldn't be true, but along with her father and trainer, Pete Taylor, she certainly had the air of a two-time world champion yesterday.

"It was a very tough competition and the pressure on me going out there was huge. I was expected to walk through everyone, come back with the gold medal.

"The Chinese girl in the final was very tall, very clever boxer so I had to be smart against her. With the crowd behind her as well, they had great support. The atmosphere was great.

"The first fight for me is always the hardest. I was nervous, a bit rusty. After that I was really at my best. In the final I really picked it up again."

Taylor will be 26 when the Olympics roll into London but there is no certainty it will be officially greenlighted until next September's IOC Congress meeting in Copenhagen.

"Everyone involved in Irish boxing is completely behind me, along with everyone involved in the Irish Sports Council. Every female boxer around the world is looking to the Olympics. We're just waiting on the official announcement in the next few weeks, so, fingers crossed. It's been my dream ever since I started boxing."

What next? "I'm getting a big McDonalds and eating chocolate. I don't have to watch my weight anymore! I dunno. I'll do normal things, really. Just spent time with family and friends. Looking forward to relaxing for the next few weeks more than anything else."

A trip to Moscow is planned for December 12th where she will pick up the AIBA female boxer of the year award.

"I think they are going to make an announcement in Moscow (on the Olympics)," said father Pete.

"It would be a great Christmas for us. She has already been considered the best pound for pound boxer in the world for the past two years but the Olympics would be the ultimate accolade for her."