Taylor plans to box clever

Today marks the 20th anniversary of Irish boxing’s greatest achievement — the day Michael Carruth won Irish boxing’s first gold medal at the Olympic Games in Barcelona and Wayne McCullagh added a silver.

Katie Taylor, too, made boxing history when she assured herself of a bronze at London 2012 and today she will cash it in for silver with gold also looking a done deal come tomorrow’s final.

But, first of all, she must deal with Mavzuna Chorieva (Tajikistan). While she is the raging hot favourite, her father and coach Pete, said they won’t be taking anything for granted.

Chorieva may have lost to Taylor 16-6 at the world championships in Qinhuangdao, but she created the shock of the quarter-finals here on Monday when she outpointed Chinese boxer, Cheng Dong, 10-5.

“She’s very explosive.” Pete said. “She’s going to be a different fighter from the world championships. She’s going to adjust her tactics. We’re going to have to adjust our tactics as well. She’s very good. I think Katie maybe didn’t make her look so good in the worlds, but I was telling everybody she is good. Katie boxed exceptionally at the worlds and she’s going to have to box at that level again to be beat her.”

High performance coach Billy Walsh said it is going to take something special to deny Katie Taylor the gold.

“Tomorrow Katie faces another very difficult assignment,” he said. “I say that because this is the Olympic Games and there are no easy contests. From what I have seen here the Olympic Games has raised the standard of women’s boxing to a level we have never experienced before.

“Maybe it’s because it’s the Olympics but we have seen boxers perform way above what we have seen before and I must admit Mavzuna Chorieva is one of those boxers. I know Katie has beaten her before in at the world championships but I think she made a bit of a name for herself when she beat Cheng Dong yesterday. Katie has boxed the Chinese in two world finals and she is a very good performer so that was a bit of a shock and a result none of us would have been expected.

“Katie was brilliant on Monday and I would expect her to be even better tomorrow when she steps up. That’s the way she operates. I would see her improve on her performance of yesterday.

“She prepares so well for all of her fights, no matter how insignificant or how important a fight is, she prepares in the same way. She appeared to be ready for that yesterday. She dealt with it so well. I know she will be trying to improve on that tomorrow and again, please God, on Thursday. She is constantly trying to improve and she continues to improve all the time. We see it in the gym. She trains and prepares immaculately. She is never satisfied. She is always trying to improve. It’s just the way she is — meticulous in her preparation and training”.