All eyes will now be on the 2012 AIBA World Championships in Chongqing, China, which will act as the only qualifier for female boxers for the London Olympics. Thirty-six Olympic places across three weight categories ,flyweight, lightweight and middleweight , will be up for grabs for female fighters in China early in 2012.
Saturday’s victory confirms Taylor as the best pound-for-pound female boxer on the planet, but the golden girl of world amateur boxing is still waiting for it all to sink in.
“I can’t believe it really. It’s a fantastic feeling to have retained my title out here,” she said.
“Having five bouts in a week at the World Championships was very tough and very demanding.
“The level of support we got out here was amazing and I would like to thank everyone for coming along to the championships and cheering the Irish team on. My main focus now is the Olympic Games and we will see what happens after that.”
Among those to welcome Taylor home were the Minister for Sport Mary Hanifin and Olympic Council of Ireland General Secretary Dermot Sherlock and CEO Stephen Martin (pictured above)
IABA President Tommy Murphy with Katy Taylor and a large media team at Dublin Airport
Olympic Silver medallist Ken Egan with Katy Taylor
