Boxing Preview: Irish boxer Katie Taylor is vowing to do the double over Switzerland's Sandra Brugger and claim a historic third European gold medal on the trot for Ireland at the sixth Women's European Championships in Vejle, Denmark, today.
Taylor, the reigning world champion from the St Fergal's club in Bray, marched into today's lightweight final following a convincing 11-4 win over Ukrainian southpaw Yana Zavyalona on Thursday.
The 21-year-old fights Brugger this afternoon (about 3pm Irish time) just a few months after she received a unanimous decision over the Swiss boxer in a challenge match in Bray. Brugger is a counter puncher who boxes orthodox but she has been known to switch to southpaw and is an acknowledged "tricky customer".
Taylor, ranked number one in the world and Europe, said: "I feel I am boxing very well and I'm feeling very confident. I came out here to retain my title and that will be my target on Saturday."
Taylor, who will have her dad and coach, Peter Taylor, and Pat Ryan in her corner today, will arrive at Dublin Airport tomorrow (4pm). She will depart for Chicago for the men's World Championships and Olympic qualifiers which begin at the University of Illinois on October 23rd. The Irish Amateur Boxing Association have an 11-man squad at the championships and up to five Irish boxers could be in the ring when the tournament starts next Tuesday.
Taylor is due to meet Canadian Katie Dunn on October 28th at the University of Illinois in a lightwelter bout (63kg) which will be used to help promote women's boxing as a future Olympic sport.
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