Irish world and back-to-back European lightweight champion Katie Taylor has received an enormous boost ahead of the European Championships which begin in Vejle Denmark on Monday next.
Taylor, from the St Fergal's club in Bray, jets out to Denmark today, knowing that according to the ABA rankings released for September that she is ranked number one in the World and Europe for the eighth consecutive month.
The 21-year-old is also ranked number one in the World and Europe in the pound-for-pound section and is favourite to land a landmark third European 60kg title in-a-row.
She finished up her training camp in Oslo, Norway last weekend and is hoping that her preparations in that country will be a lucky omen ahead of the Europeans.
Taylor was in training camp in Norway last year before she won the European title after stopping the then world champion, Tationa Chalay from Russia, on the 15-point rule in the 60kg final in Warsaw, Poland.
That victory arrived less than two months before she dethroned Chalay in the semi-finals of the World Championships in New Delhi en route to winning gold.
Commentating on next week's Europeans, Taylor, who will have her dad and coach Peter and Pat Ryan in her corner in Denmark, reckons that the Russians, Turks and Czechs will be the ones to beat.
She said: 'I have trained very hard for the European Championships and the training camp in Norway was ideal and we got a lot of work done out there.
'I am not sure who the Russians will enter in the lightweight division, but no matter who they enter she will be strong and I believe the Czechs and the Turks will be difficult to beat also.
'My objective in Denmark is to retain my title and I am confident that I can do that, but I won't be taking anything for granted as it will be a very competitive tournament.'
Meanwhile, the Irish men's senior team have finished up their training camp in Frankfurt, Germany and will arrive home today before flying out to Chicago next Tuesday for the World Championships and Olympic qualifiers on 16 October.
The National U-21 Championships begin at the National Stadium in Dublin tonight and continue on Saturday evening. A number of bouts could also be held this Sunday morning.
The championships, which will feature 82 boxers, will conclude on 19 October with finals night.
