Katie Taylor: Future is bright for Christina Desmond
Cork middleweight Desmond picked up bronze at the yesterday’s medal ceremony for the European Elite Women’s Championships in Sofia after reaching the last four of her 75kg weight class.
The 20-year-old southpaw was considered unlucky to lose a split-decision semi-final call against Maily Nicar of France, with Irish head coach Zaur Antia claiming Desmond “destroyed” her opponent.
With Taylor set to formally depart the amateur ranks as the former Olympic champion makes her pro debut in London this weekend, the Irish women’s team can no longer rely on the Bray woman as its star attraction.
But Taylor believes that the future is bright for Desmond as she suggested the Cork woman — who is highly decorated at youth level — can progress to bigger and better things.
“Christina is absolutely fantastic, she’s had a great year so far, and she’s only so young as well,” said Taylor. “I think she’s one that can do really well over the next few years. There definitely are girls out there who can go in and make an impact.
“I think the likes of Shauna (too), she’s definitely dedicated and shows a great attitude,” added the six-time European champion referring to Shauna O’Keeffe, who filled the 60kg lightweight spot in Sofia following Taylor’s decision not to travel.
Desmond’s success means she is only the third Irishwoman to medal at the tournament after Taylor and Clare Grace. However, it was a disappointing tournament overall for Ireland as the rest of the seven-woman team failed to reach the podium with world silver medallist Kellie Harrington and O’Keeffe both falling at the quarter-final stage.
Taylor admitted that female Irish boxers face a tough challenge in terms of hitting Government funding criteria, but the Bray woman suggested that the women’s amateur set-up has improved in the last year under head coach Antia.
“It is very, very tough. You have to be winning medals as well to get that funding,” said Taylor. “They’re not just going to be giving the funding out to anyone, they have to obviously prove themselves and beat the system.
“[But] I think it [the women’s set-up] has definitely has improved over the last year,” added the five-time world amateur champion, who will make her paid debut at London’s Wembley Arena on Saturday.
The 30-year-old takes on Polish journeywoman Karina Kopinska in the first of a series of bouts that have been lined up by her new promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sports and manager Brian Peters.
With her debut set to be screened live on Sky Sports this weekend, Taylor claims the challenge of entering the pro ranks has revitalised her boxing career following the disappointment of losing her Olympic crown in Rio.
“I’m very excited, I think over the last couple of months have been some of the most exciting months of my career really,” said the Bray native. “I just can’t wait to get in there and showcase my skills at the weekend.”
Meanwhile, England’s Natasha Gale beat France’s Maily Nicar in yesterday’s European Elite Women’s middleweight final in Sofia, Bulgaria. Nicar was controversially handed a split decision win over Christina Desmond on Tuesday.
