DR CK WU, president of the International Boxing Association (IBA), has hailed Katie Taylor’s dominance of the lightweight class as extraordinary.
When the bells ring in 2016 on Friday week, Taylor will enter her 10th straight year ranked as number one in the world at lightweight. Her occupancy of the premier position for an entire decade is unprecedented in the sport. No international boxer, male or female, has remained in pole position for so long.
Pat Ryan, president of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association, who has worked Taylor’s corner in the past, said what the Bray woman has achieved will probably not be surpassed in our lifetime.
Taylor’s reign began in New Delhi, India in November 2006 after she beat Argentina’s Annabella Frias to claim her first world gold, a win which lifted her to number one in the 60kg rankings for the first time. Frias turned pro a year after dropping a 31-14 decision to Taylor under the old computer scoring system and is the current WBC World super-lightweight champion.
Dr Wu said the IBA salutes Taylor, the reigning Olympic, World, European, European Games, European Union and Irish champion: “What Katie Taylor has achieved over the last 10 years in international competition, including the Olympic Games and AIBA World Women’s Elite Championships, has been absolutely outstanding.
“The International Boxing Association congratulates and salutes Katie. To remain at the top of our lightweight rankings for a decade is extraordinary. Such remarkable consistency is a testimony to the skill, ambition and determination of a truly world class boxer. She is an inspiration to our young athletes throughout the world.”
Taylor will be aiming for her sixth successive title at the World Women’s Elite Championships and Olympic qualifiers in Kazakhstan in May. However, she could be qualified for Rio 2016 before Kazakhstan if she finishes in the top three at the European Olympic qualifiers in Turkey in April.
Meanwhile, Michael Conlan is at number one in the AIBA bantam rankings. Combined with Taylor, Irish boxing occupies two of the 20 top spots in World Elite boxing. Current European and European Games champion Joe Ward and Michael O’Reilly are each ranked number three in the light-heavy and middle classes.
Taylor is currently in number one spot on 2,400 points, 850 points ahead of France’s Estelle Mosselly, who is in second spot. Any class of a medal at the World Championships in Kazakhstan will ensure the Wicklow orthodox, if she qualifies, will be seeded number one at Rio 2016.
Conlan will go into the Olympics ranked number one as there are no ranking tournaments for men between now and Rio.
