BOXING:IRISH LIGHTWEIGHT Katie Taylor believes she can win her third AIBA world lightweight title in a row if she performs to her full potential in Barbados next month.
The Wicklow woman claimed her third successive European Union lightweight gold in Keszthely, Hungary, on Saturday by comfortably defeating Denicia Eliseeva of Bulgaria 16-1.
The weekend’s win – Taylor’s 95th in 101 fights since 2001 – was a repeat of the 2009 EU final which the Irish woman won 8-1 in Bulgaria.
In winning her ninth major international gold in Hungary she racked up 37 points and conceded just five in four bouts over four days.
But now her focus is on a much more prestigious hat-trick in Barbados.
“I got four bouts under my belt against quality opposition and that’s what we came out here for,” said Taylor.
“I’m delighted to have retained my European Union title and Hungary was ideal preparation for the World Championships which are just a few weeks away now.
“I’ve been training for it all year and I can’t wait for it to begin, although it is going to be tough in Barbados.
“Winning three World titles in a row is my ambition and I’m confident that if I box to my full potential out there that I can do just that.
“But it will be very tough. The Russians and the eastern Europeans and the Chinese will be there and nothing will come easy.”
Last March, Taylor was beaten (8-1) for the first time in three years by 2006 AIBA World bantamweight (54kg) champion Sofya Ochigava of Russia in the Czech Republic.
Ochigava has since moved up to lightweight (60kg), while many light welterweights (64kg) are dropping back down to 60kg.
It means Taylor will have to contend with extra quality in her weight category. The reason for all the manoeuvring up and down weights, towards 60kg is that there are just three weight categories – (48kg to 51kg, 56kg to 60kg, 69kg to 75kg) – available for females boxers at the Olympic in 2012.
Taylor added: “I didn’t box to my full potential against Ochigava that day and she won fair and square, but the fight was a lot closer than the score suggested. I hope she’s in my weight category in Barbados.”
Taylor was part of a four-strong Irish squad that included Alanna Murphy, Debbie Rogers and Sinead Kavanagh in Hungary.
IABA director of boxing, Dominic O’Rourke said: “Katie was magnificent and we’re very pleased with the performances of the entire squad. They represented their country with pride and we can’t ask for anymore than that.”
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)