Ireland lose out on European test

Confusion reigned at the launch of the IABA’s National Elite Championships yesterday, with the news that Ireland won’t be hosting the European Women’s Championships this year.

At the press conference, Katie Taylor was forced to leave early due to a prior engagement, but not before her father and coach Peter briefly spoke of how she was looking forward to the continental event. Indeed association president Tommy Murphy also spoke of how her heavy schedule of five fights in four weeks would be good preparation for Taylor as “there’s no use boxing once or twice going into the Europeans as you can’t walk in cold, box and win championships”.

But in Taylor’s absence, Murphy then revealed those women’s Europeans won’t actually be taking place.