Taylor ready to rumble in Cork as Olympic qualifier nears

Katie Taylor will make her first appearance in Cork tomorrow night in her penultimate bout in Ireland before she jets off for the 2012 World Championships in Qinhuangdao, China, where she’ll be hoping to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.

The fight at the Silver Springs Moran Hotel, pits the world No 1 against 2011 USA National Championships winner, Liz Leddy from Portland. Leddy was a homeless, alcoholic, school dropout before she turned to boxing in 1999, and by 2007 she had transformed herself into a top class athlete, scooping a silver medal at the USA Golden Gloves.

Just 24 hours after her meeting with Leddy, Taylor will take to the ring again, in Dungarvan, to face American prospect N’yteeyah Sherman.

The 20-year old Sherman was due to make her professional debut on the Floyd Mayweather v Miguel Cotto undercard but passed that opportunity up for a shot at world number one Taylor.

This weekend’s fights will act as a dress rehearsal for the all-important World Championships in Qinhuangdao which begin on May 9. This is the only Olympic qualification event for women’s boxing and Taylor will be looking to lay down a marker ahead of the summer games by winning the competition for a record fourth successive time.

Taylor carriers some momentum into tomorrow night’s encounter after twice beating Dutch boxer Jessica Belder in convincing fashion at last weekend’s internationals between Ireland and the Netherlands in Cavan.

Tickets are available from Silver Springs Moran Hotel and cost €15, with ringside seats costing €50.

Billing for tomorrow’s SilverSprings ‘Pre Olympic Fight Night’:

36kg: J Kiely (Glen BC) v C Condon (St. Colman’s, Shanagarry); 39k: G Dario Green (St. John’s Fermoy) v D Murray (Ballincollig); 29k: G Darrell Kearns (Knockmahon) v J Ryan (St Francis, Limerick); 54kg: G Eugene Brady (Riverstown) v J Lonergan (Clonmel); 57kg: P McCarthy (Brian Dillons) v B Welsh (Setanta BC),

Junior Girls 60kg N Ball (Trojan, Listowel) v K O’Sullivan (St. Colman’s Shanagarry); 63kg: C Desmond (Macroom) v S Carrig (Ennis).

63kg: D O’Brien (St. John’s) v B Ryan (Clonmel); 71kg: D Ryan (Ballincollig) v P Maloney (St. Francis); 63kg: D Fitzgerald (St. Paul’s) v L Dick (Navan); P Keane (Knockmahon) v S O’Mahony (Fr. Horgan’s); 66kg: S Wallace (Ballincollig) v D Roche (Sunnyside); 50kg: M Olden (Watergrasshill) v C Madden (St. Francis); 69kg: N Murphy (Macroom) v M Fitzpatrick (Riverstown); 60kg: K Taylor (Bray) v L Leddy (Portland, US).