Post by Dee Williams on Dec 13, 2008 9:10:07 GMT -5
One of the many good things about international level amateur boxing for women is that the bext regularly meet the best in organized tournaments, nobody stays home all the time, and the top boxers see regular action on the road against each other.
Despite some problems with judging and the scoring systems. women's amateur boxing at the top AIBA level offers a high level of competition that rejularly brings together the best from all around the world. And this year in China the best of the best was 22 year old Katie Taylor from Ireland who was just honored for her achievement at a ceremony in Moscow.
At the Fifth AIBA Women's World Championships in Ningbo, China in November, 2008, Katie successfully defended her 60-kg world title with a convincing 13-2 win over home-country star Cheng Dong of China in the final, and was also named as the Best Boxer of the Tournament. Irish team manager Anna Moore said of Katie's final performance: “Katie was 6-0 up at the end of the first round and there was no stopping her after that.”
Her closest fight in the 2008 World Championship tournament came in her second preliminary bout in which she was held to just a 4-3 victory by 2008 high-flier Cup 60-kg champion Danuse Dilhofova of the Czech Republic. Taylor had jumped to a 3-0 lead in the second round against Dilhofova but was then penalized two points for holding (a controversial call that was later officially protested by the Irish team). Dilhofova raised the anxiety level in the third round by evening the score at 3-3 with the only punch that she landed, before Taylor landed again with a crucial winning score. Taylor had previously defeated Australia's Emma Carruthers by an emphatic 20-3 margin. She went on to stop Peralta Celeste of Argentina in the first round of her quarterfinal, after forcing Celeste into two standing counts before the fight was stopped with Katie up 10-1. She outscored Ayzznat Gadzhieva of Russia 20-2 in her semifinal, leading the Russian by 5-1 after one round and 11-2 after two.
Katie Taylor was named AIBA female boxer of the year in Moscow Dec 12.
Speaking from Moscow, Taylor, who is coached by her dad, Peter Taylor, said that she was very proud to accept such a prestigious honour.
She said: "I would like to thank AIBA for this very special award, it means a lot not only to me but also to all female boxers who practice our beautiful sport. Women's boxing is amazing at the moment, the level is increasing and the recent Women's World Championships were a perfect example of the very high standard we find ourselves competing in.
"This award is great recognition of the excellent progress women's boxing has made in recent years and I would like to dedicate it to all the female athletes around the world who are training hard and competing in the hope that we will be able to participate in the 2012 Olympic Games."
The President of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association, Dominic O'Rourke said that Taylor's award was another proud moment for the IABA who celebrate their 100th birthday in 2011.
He said: "Katie is a tremendous ambassador for Irish sport and her achievement in retaining her World title in China and also being named boxer of the tournament was phenomenal.
"This mornings award is another proud moment in the history of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association. Katie's achievements are an inspiration to everyone involved with Irish amateur boxing and a source of immense pride."
Katie is also a star on the Irish national womens soccer team. You can read more about her at
www.wban.org/biog/ktaylor.htm
Despite some problems with judging and the scoring systems. women's amateur boxing at the top AIBA level offers a high level of competition that rejularly brings together the best from all around the world. And this year in China the best of the best was 22 year old Katie Taylor from Ireland who was just honored for her achievement at a ceremony in Moscow.
At the Fifth AIBA Women's World Championships in Ningbo, China in November, 2008, Katie successfully defended her 60-kg world title with a convincing 13-2 win over home-country star Cheng Dong of China in the final, and was also named as the Best Boxer of the Tournament. Irish team manager Anna Moore said of Katie's final performance: “Katie was 6-0 up at the end of the first round and there was no stopping her after that.”
Her closest fight in the 2008 World Championship tournament came in her second preliminary bout in which she was held to just a 4-3 victory by 2008 high-flier Cup 60-kg champion Danuse Dilhofova of the Czech Republic. Taylor had jumped to a 3-0 lead in the second round against Dilhofova but was then penalized two points for holding (a controversial call that was later officially protested by the Irish team). Dilhofova raised the anxiety level in the third round by evening the score at 3-3 with the only punch that she landed, before Taylor landed again with a crucial winning score. Taylor had previously defeated Australia's Emma Carruthers by an emphatic 20-3 margin. She went on to stop Peralta Celeste of Argentina in the first round of her quarterfinal, after forcing Celeste into two standing counts before the fight was stopped with Katie up 10-1. She outscored Ayzznat Gadzhieva of Russia 20-2 in her semifinal, leading the Russian by 5-1 after one round and 11-2 after two.
Katie Taylor was named AIBA female boxer of the year in Moscow Dec 12.
Speaking from Moscow, Taylor, who is coached by her dad, Peter Taylor, said that she was very proud to accept such a prestigious honour.
She said: "I would like to thank AIBA for this very special award, it means a lot not only to me but also to all female boxers who practice our beautiful sport. Women's boxing is amazing at the moment, the level is increasing and the recent Women's World Championships were a perfect example of the very high standard we find ourselves competing in.
"This award is great recognition of the excellent progress women's boxing has made in recent years and I would like to dedicate it to all the female athletes around the world who are training hard and competing in the hope that we will be able to participate in the 2012 Olympic Games."
The President of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association, Dominic O'Rourke said that Taylor's award was another proud moment for the IABA who celebrate their 100th birthday in 2011.
He said: "Katie is a tremendous ambassador for Irish sport and her achievement in retaining her World title in China and also being named boxer of the tournament was phenomenal.
"This mornings award is another proud moment in the history of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association. Katie's achievements are an inspiration to everyone involved with Irish amateur boxing and a source of immense pride."
Katie is also a star on the Irish national womens soccer team. You can read more about her at
www.wban.org/biog/ktaylor.htm