Boxing:Eight weeks on from fulfilling her lifelong dream of winning an Olympic gold medal and Katie Taylor appears to have decided where her future lies.
The Bray woman was mulling over the prospect of turning professional since her victory in London in August, but the lure of a defending her Olympic title in Rio in four years’ time is proving too hard to resist.
Taylor stopped short of confirming she has definitely settled for an amateur future but all signs pointed down that road today as she revealed her reservations about the “cut-throat business” of the professional game.
“I would love to stay amateur, to be honest, and go for Rio, in four years,” said Taylor. “I suppose the only thing I haven’t done in amateur boxing is defend my Olympic title. That’s something I would love to do, if I can work it out. I don’t think there’ll be anything better than boxing again for the gold medal in Rio.
“At the same time we have been offered a few nice contracts around the professional game. That would be a new challenge too, so I’m still not entirely sure, it will take a little more time over the next few weeks to think about it.”
She added: “I think the Olympics will always be the pinnacle. If I did turn pro, would I ever get back to how I felt at the Olympics? Defending that title would get that feeling.
“The professional game is more like a business, a cut-throat business, really. You have to get the right fights, the right promoter. With amateur boxing you’re just there to fight the best. And I think it’s harder to win titles in amateur boxing.”
Taylor revealed her father, mentor and coach, Peter, would prefer if she stopped fighting altogether, but on this decision, he’ll do what he’s told.
“I know, my dad still wants me to retire, now,” she says. “So maybe if I did turn pro he would have a nervous breakdown. But no, he’s leaving it completely up to me, and whichever decision I make he’ll be 100 per cent behind me. But he’s writing out the programmes already, getting me ready for next year.”
Talks have begun over a new amateur contract with the Irish Sports Council already but Taylor did not want to reveal too much, It seems, however, she has made up her mind already.