Taylor sets her sights on gold in London

Boxing/ Sixth Women's European Championships: World champion and this weekend European champion for a third time, Katie Taylor now straddles her sport in a way that no other amateur boxer has done before.

The Irish lightweight champion made history on Saturday night in Denmark when she was crowned European champion for the third year in succession and now looks to the London Olympics in 2012 to fulfil a lifetime ambition of also becoming an Olympic champion.

While she would see it as a huge disappointment that the International Olympic Committee have decided that women's boxing will not be part of the Beijing Games next year, the 21-year-old from the St Fergal's club in Bray will wait for her opportunity, which she believes will be in five years' time.

"There is no women's boxing in Beijing but it will definitely be part of the Olympics in 2012," said the champion yesterday. "I'm confident that London will have women's boxing and I will definitely stay amateur for that. I have no intention or interest in going into professional boxing."

Taylor, coached by her father Peter, earned her latest crown when her final bout against Swiss fighter Sandra Brugger was stopped in the second round. Taylor had taken an 8-0 lead in the first round and when she quickly added another seven points in the second to build a 15-point margin, the fight was stopped automatically midway through the round. In amateur boxing all fights are stopped once an opponent dominates to the extent of building up a 15-point gap.

"The gold medal was definitely always on my mind. I think I fought well at the tournament. I boxed well and my defence was good," she said. "I trained for the gold coming into the tournament. That was always on my mind. I came out to Vejle determined to hold on to my title and I'm delighted I managed to do it. Sure the pressure came on for the final but I tried to stay relaxed. That was important.

"I think I am setting a standard for women's boxing in Ireland and hopefully now more women will come into the sport here."

Taylor has now dominated her 60kg division for a number of years and could be genuinely considered to be one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. In her four fights on the way to the gold medal, she conceded only four points and built up a total of 49, which in itself is an astounding achievement.

"I was 8-0 up in the first round and she ran for the whole fight. It was a good performance," added Taylor. "She didn't catch me with any clean shots at all. I was very satisfied with my defence. The World Championships are next year so hopefully now I can add another world title too and then an Olympic title."

Taylor has now signed up to travel to Chicago, where the 11-man Irish team are taking part in the amateur World Championships this week. She will take part in a demonstration of women's boxing during the championships, where Ireland hope to get a number of boxers qualified for the Olympics next year. Three places gained in Beijing would be considered a very successful championships for the Irish team.

"I don't know where the World Championships are on next year because they have not decided yet," said Taylor.

"But those are definitely what I'll be aiming for."

The Minister for Arts, Tourism and Sport, Seamus Brennan, was one of the first to congratulate Taylor's achievement.

"Katie has been a great ambassador for women's boxing in Ireland and her outstanding victory has confirmed her status as the number one," he said.

Golden Route

(Scores at end of first two rounds in brackets)

60Kg: Preliminary: Katie Taylor (Ireland) beat Hristina Athanasopoulou (Greece) Rsco2 (15-0).

60Kg: Quarter-Final: Katie Taylor (Ireland) beat Mc de la Guia Guerra (Spain) KO1 (Taylor was 8-0 up before she knocked out her opponent in the first).

60Kg: Semi-Final: Katie Taylor (Ireland) beat Yana Zavyalova (Ukraine) (4-0, 6-1) 11-4.

60Kg: Final: Katie Taylor (Ireland) beat Sandra Brugger (Switzerland) Rsco2 (15-0) (Taylor was 8-0 up and the end of round one).

Boxer of the Tournament Award: Katie Taylor (Ireland).

*Rsco2: Referee stops contest outscored round two*