Taylor: Women boxers ‘treated like second-class citizens’

Katie Taylor’s father and coach believes women boxers are treated like second-class citizens.

A year has passed since Katie captured the imaginations of the Olympic hordes with her displays en route to winning a gold medal at the London Games but yesterday the International Olympic Committee (IOC) turned down a request by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) for extra places for women boxers for Rio 2016.

Female boxing debuted at London 2012 in three weight classes; flyweight, lightweight and middleweight and the decision not to increase those weights has been greeted with anger by Pete Taylor.

Only 36 places will be available for women across the three London 2012 weight classes while the remaining 286 Olympic boxing berths will go to men.

Restricting female Olympic boxing to just three classes will open up debates on health concerns about boxers moving up and down from their natural weights.

“I am disappointed and very surprised by this decision, said Pete Taylor. “It’s crazy and once again women boxers are being treated as second-class citizens.

“I thought that given the success of the sport at the London Olympics women’s boxing would get two or three more weight classes for Rio. It beggars belief that they are again being restricted to three weights.

“Women’s boxing proved itself at London 2012. They are not looking for any special treatment. All they are looking for is to be treated equally.”