Katie to remain an amateur
Olympic gold medal winner Katie Taylor has decided to remain an amateur boxer after shunning numerous lucrative offers to turn professional.
She said she will continue boxing until at least 2016, when she will defend her gold medal at the next Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
There has been feverish speculation surrounding the 26-year-old’s future, but after negotiations with professional promoters she decided her future remained in the amateur ring.
The Bray boxer fulfilled her lifelong dream by winning gold at the Olympic Games in London – and now she has her sights set on defending her crown in four years’ time.
Speaking on the Ray D’Arcy Show on Today FM, she said: “Just boxing for my country and bringing back medals, there’s really nothing better. I’m going to stay amateur and defend my title in Rio in four years’ time.”
Her father Peter had openly shared his hope that Katie would quit the sport entirely, while Katie said that if she had turned pro, she wanted to be based in Bray instead of moving to the UK or USA.
