Women's boxing confirmed for Olympics

Women's boxing will make its first appearance on the Olympic programme at the London 2012 Games, the International Olympic Committee said on Thursday.

IOC president Jacques Rogge, a former boxing doctor, is a strong advocate of women's boxing and his desire was rubber-stamped by the IOC Executive Board at their meeting.

Ireland's Katie Taylor will instantly become a medal favourite given her dominence in the sport in recent years.

Taylor is Ireland's most successful boxer in history and has numerous European and World titles to her name.

She is one of the most consistent stars in world sport, boasting a record of 60 wins from 61 fights and 39 consecutive victories.

Taylor will be holding a press conference at the National Stadium in Dublin to give her reaction to the news.

The arrival of women's boxing at the 2012 Games will signal a reduction in the number of men's boxing categories.

Meanwhile, golf and rugby sevens have been shortlisted for inclusion at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

The two were selected from seven candidate sports by the IOC's executive board at a meeting in Berlin and a final vote on their inclusion will be held at the IOC's full session to be held in Copenhagen in October.