Katie spurns professional boxing to focus on 2012 Olympics

WORLD boxing champion Katie Taylor has not ruled out making the jump from the amateur to the professional ranks, but only after she has achieved her primary aim of competing in the Olympics.

Peter Taylor, her father and coach, recently received an offer to compete on the same bill as John Duddy and Andy Lee at Madison Square Garden on March 16 but the 20-year old never entertained the thought of accepting the opportunity.

“I have no intention of turning professional at all,” stated Taylor. “Maybe it would be in the long-term, but not at the moment. I’ve no interest in professional boxing and I don’t think my parents would really like me with a crooked nose.”

Taylor’s chief ambition this year is to defend her European title in Denmark, but her overall goal remains the Olympic Games and her hope is that she will get the chance to scratch that itch in London in 2012.

Taylor admits she was hugely disappointed when the International Olympic Committee didn’t approve womens’ boxing for Beijing next year, as had been expected, but she will still only be 26 by the time the games in England swing around. “I want to box in the Olympics in 2012. Hopefully womens’ boxing will be included. There is a big push for it in 2012 and I think there’s a great chance we will be in it, but I’m not sure how far that’s gone.”

A busy 2007 begins early next month when she will make her first appearance on home soil since her world championship success in New Delhi last November.

Finland’s Eva Walstrom, who she defeated in the 2005 European lightweight final, will be her opponent in the National Stadium on the same weekend as the men’s national finals.

After that, she will represent Ireland in a multi-nation tournament in Russia in March before turning her attention to the Europeans. For now though, her thoughts are fixed firmly on Walstrom.

“It’s always a really close fight between us. She’s very strong and has a very good left hook. It’s going to be another tough battle, but I’m looking forward to it, it’s great to be boxing in the finals of the National Seniors.

“It’s going to be a great night. It’s great to be boxing in front of my home crowd and it’s great for women’s boxing. Hopefully, it will get more women involved in the sport.”