KATIE TAYLOR will have to wait another four months before getting a shot at matching the all-time record of Cuban legend Felix Savon.
The Olympic champion had a six-week plan in place to target her six successive title at the World Women’s Elites in January.
But the International Boxing Association (AIBA) announced yesterday that they have changed the dates for the World Women’s Elite to May 16/28 in Astana, Kazakhstan.
The tournament, which is an Olympic qualifier, was originally scheduled for Kazakhstan in January. It is understood the dates were changed for logistical reasons.
“We had a six-week plan with Zaur (Zaur Antia, Irish interim head coach). It’s crazy, but it’s the same for everyone and it is better for us to prepare,” admitted Taylor’s coach and dad Pete Taylor.
Taylor junior could also have the added bonus of having qualified for Rio 2016 before her lightweight defence in Central Asia.
The final AOB Olympic qualifier for European men and women is slated for Istanbul, Turkey from April 20 to May 1.
Female boxers are restricted to three Olympic weight classes flyweight, lightweight and middleweight, although it is expected that this will be upped to five for Tokyo 2020.
So far, World Series of Boxing (WSB) champion Paddy Barnes, World Elite champion Michael Conlan and European Elite champion Joe Ward have qualified for Rio.
Ballymena welter Steven Donnelly will know in early December if he gets a wild card through the WSB for the 31st Olympiad.
Taylor will be looking to match the all-time record of Savon, a six-time AIBA World Elite champion from 1986 to 1997, in Kazakhstan next May.
Meanwhile, in Tennessee, USA, former Irish head coach Billy Walsh will know his USA women’s team for Kazakhstan by Monday.
The USA Olympic trials conclude in Memphis this weekend. Walsh, who signed a contract as USA head coach this week, is at ringside at the trials.
Elsewhere, the Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) may review its decision to hold the National EliteS a second time this year because of the change of dates for the Women Worlds.
The IABA were planning to run the Elites next month and in December to facilitate Ireland’s boxers going into the Olympic qualifiers.
The National Intermediate Championships conclude at Dublin’s National Stadium this weekend. The semi-finals and finals will be decided tonight and tomorrow.
National Intermediate Championships National Stadium Dublin
October 30th (7pm)
S/Finals
56kg C Cekiso (Portlaoise) v N Kehoe (Marble City)
56kg A Cross (Lucan) v C McDonald (N7)
60kg T Bradley (S/Heart Omagh) v H Joyce (St Michaels Athy)
60kg C Berry (Bray) v C O’Donovan (Togher)
64kg K Kelly (St Margarets) v M Noonan (Riverstown)
64kg J Cleary (Olympic) v J Long Sunnyside)
69kg M McCole (Dungloe) v K McMahon (Ballybough)
69kg M Stokes (Holy Family) v M Fitzpatrick (Riverstown)
75kg E Byrne (Na Fianna) v D Burke (St Michaels Dub)
75kg J Lawrence (Eagle) v C Wallace (St Monicas N)
81kg M Frayne (St Marys) v E Walsh (St Annes)
81kg S Conroy (Ballyhaunis) v A Kondrotas (Portlaoise)
91kg S Lawrence (Holy Family) v C Griffin (Celtic Eagles/D/F)
91kg P Hickey (Paulstown) v M Gallagher (Finn Valley)
91+kg J McDonald (Crumlin) v M Keenan (Thurles)
91+kg P Nevin (St Michaels) v P McDonagh (Lumpini)
