Ireland’s world and European champion amateur boxer Katie Taylor had to make do with a silver medal after suffering a controversial reversal in the final of the Ahmet Comet Cup in Istanbul last week.
Taylor was irresistible throughout the tournament, dispatching three opponents in the first two rounds on the 15-point rule.
However, the home advantage proved significant when she came up against Turkey’s Tatar Gulson. Despite putting the Turk on the floor six times during the three-minute bout, judges scored the fight 16–13 in her opponent’s favour.
Taylor’s father Pete, who was in his 20-year-old daughter’s corner said: “Katie completely dominated the fight and I would be reluctant to say anything further than that.”
The trainer, who coaches out of St Fergal’s Boxing Club in Bray, added: “Katie performed magnificently out here in all her four fights.”
Commentators pointed out that of the six finals that featured a Turkish fighter, not one of their opponents – two of whom had travelled from boxing superpower Cuba – managed to cause an upset against the host nation.
The bizarre sequence of events was topped off when amazingly, in the context of the result, Taylor – who is a reigning world champ – was announced as boxer of the tournament.
Her father added: “I think the fact that Katie was presented with the boxer of the tournament award speaks for itself.”
Despite the disappointment of the final, Pete Taylor added that his daughter Katie and her team would take the positives out of the experience.
Taylor’s father Pete, who was in his 20-year-old daughter’s corner said: “Katie completely dominated the fight and I would be reluctant to say anything further than that.”
The trainer, who coaches out of St Fergal’s Boxing Club in Bray, added: “Katie performed magnificently out here in all her four fights.”
Commentators pointed out that of the six finals that featured a Turkish fighter, not one of their opponents – two of whom had travelled from boxing superpower Cuba – managed to cause an upset against the host nation.
The bizarre sequence of events was topped off when amazingly, in the context of the result, Taylor – who is a reigning world champ – was announced as boxer of the tournament.
Her father added: “I think the fact that Katie was presented with the boxer of the tournament award speaks for itself.”
Despite the disappointment of the final, Pete Taylor added that his daughter Katie and her team would take the positives out of the experience.
“The objective was to get some competitive fights under her belt and we are happy with that,” he noted.
Meanwhile, the Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) is gearing up for next month’s European Union Championships, scheduled to be held at the National Stadium in Dublin.
Up to 25 nations, including Ireland, will be competing at the South Circular Rod venue from 17–25 June.
The President of the World Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA), Dr Ching-Kuo Wu, is set to attend the event, which will be the biggest on the Irish amateur boxing calendar this year.
