IRISH boxing sensation Katie Taylor is looking forward to defending her World and European titles and is refusing to be distracted by speculation linking her to the pro game. The 20 year World and European champion was reacting to reports that she was considering walking away from the amateur ranks to sign a pro contract in the USA. The speculation about Taylor's future as an amateur arose after John Duddys manager Eddie McLoughlin invited her to fight in Madison Square Garden on March 16 next. Unbeaten Irish middleweight Duddy will headline the March 16 bill and Andy Lee could also make an appearance in what will be a pro promotion mainly featuring Irish boxers. McLoughlin extended the invitation to Taylor via her dad and coach Peter who was in his daughters corner when she won the world gold in New Delhi last November. However,Taylor senior insists that his daughter has no intention of boxing in New York in March, and that she has no intention of turning professional for the foreseeable future. He said: "Eddie McLoughlin phoned me before Christmas and extended an open invitation for us to travel to New York in January with a view to Katie boxing at Madison Square Garden on March 16th."
"But I never even returned the call to decline the invitation as Katie is boxing at the Stadium in Dublin in February and she is due to compete in Russia on March 19th next. "Katie is very happy as an amateur and she is being treated brilliantly on the IABAs High Performance programme and by Irish Sports Council and we have a great relationships with both organisations." "Katie has no intention of turning professional in the foreseeable future as she is very happy boxing as an amateur and she is not being distracted by speculation." Taylor snr, admitted that it was frustrating that women's boxing was ruled out for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing where his daughter would have one of the favourites to win gold. However, he reckons that the International Olympic Committee will finally give the green light for women's boxing for the 2012 Olympic games in London. He added: "It was frustrating that women's boxing was not included for the Beijing Olympics next year as it is every athletes dream to represent their country at the Olympics and Katie is no different, "But I would be confident that it will be an Olympic sport in 2012 and that really would be something to look forward too for the future." Meantime, Taylor could meet Finland's Eva Walstrom at the Stadium in Dublin in February in a repeat of the 2005 European lightweight final which Taylor won. Ex world champion Tatyana Chalaya from Russia, who Taylor beat in New Delhi and in the 2005 European final, is also being lined up to meet the golden girl of Irish amateur boxing in Dublin next month.
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