OLYMPIC CHAMPION KATIE TAYLOR STAYING AS AMATEUR
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 23 Oct 2012
2012 London Olympics lightweight champion Katie Taylor of Ireland plans to stay amateur and defend her gold medal at the 2016 Rio de Janiero Games. A report by Padraic Halpin of the Associated Press said Taylor has rejected an opportunity to turn professional and plans to stay as an amateur boxer until the next Olympics four years hence.
The 26-year-old Taylor announced on an Irish radio station, saying ''boxing for my country, there's nothing better than that really and bringing home medals for my country. I'm going to stay amateur and hopefully I'll defend my title in Rio in four years' time.''
No less than former undisputed world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson advised Taylor to turn professional. She was lured by promoter Brian Peters and Golden Boy Promotions but rejected the lucrative offers to remain as amateur.
A four-time world amateur boxing champion, Taylor gave Ireland its first non-controversial gold medal in 20 years last August. She was an Olympic celebrity gaining triumphant reputation in the successful debut of women?s boxing in the Summer Games.
Also an international soccer player, Taylor now 26, said she felt she could keep fighting for 10 more years but could not defend her Olympic title had she decided to turn pro.
"I've been offered a few professional contracts... in the hundreds and thousands," said Taylor. "The thing with professional boxing is you have to have the right promoter and the right fights. It is a cut-throat business and you're not guaranteed to get the best fights.?
Taylor started boxing at the age of 12 in 1998 and was coached by her father Peter Taylor, a successful amateur boxer. It was her childhood dream to compete in the Olympics.
Taylor was the flag bearer for Ireland during the London Olympic opening ceremony parade of nations. She has won nine European championships and four world amateur titles. She was named Sportsperson of the Year at the 2012 People of the Year Awards in Ireland.
She scored an impressive 26-15 victory over Great Britain's Natasha Jonas, after earning a bye in the first round. In the semi-final she overpowered Tajikistan's Mavzuna Chorieva, 17-9 victory. She defeated Russia's Sofya Ochigava in the final, 10-8, becoming the first ever Olympic female lightweight champion.
Taylor was also a member of Ireland?s women?s senior football team. At club level Taylor played in the Dublin Women's Soccer League. Several football clubs were interested in securing her services after she won the Olympics. She was awarded World Female Boxer of the Year in 2008 and 2010 by the International Boxing Association (AIBA).
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