Katie Taylor finally gets back to serious stuff

Katie Taylor has welcomed confirmation of her first Irish senior final bout after a four-an-a-half month wait for action ahead of a busy fight schedule in the build-up to the Rio Olympics.

Taylor yesterday weighed in for the 2016 National Elite Senior Championships, which will start before the new year in a bid to avoid clashes with international action and Olympic qualifiers.

The women’s national championships were due to get underway last night at the National Stadium, but the IABA opted to postpone the opening bell due to the small number of female entries and, along with the men’s competition, the tournament will now start next weekend. Taylor will have her first domestic final bout on Friday week (Nov 27) after receiving a bye to the 60kg lightweight decider where she will meet the winner of next weekend’s semi-final between 20-year-olds Kayleigh Murrihy McCormack of Kilfenora and Clonmel’s Shauna O’Keeffe.