PRESIDENT of the IABA, Dominic O’Rourke has described the decision of the Italians to withdraw from Sunday night’s boxing international in Belfast after four bouts as extremely unsporting and totally unnecessary.

Katie Taylor relinquished her proud unbeaten run stretching back to May 13, 2007 after she was beaten by former World champion Sofya Ochigava of Russia in her lightweight semi final at the Usti na Labem Gran Prix in the Czech Republic yesterday.