Two-time World Champion and four-time European Champion Irish legend Katie Taylor would became her third title in Bridgetown, Barbados at the 6th AIBA Women's World Championships which will be starting with the first competition day on September 9.

Bray-based Katie Taylor has been boxing since 1998 in her home town with leading of her father Peter Taylor. When Katie was a child she grew up watching her father shadow boxing in their family kitchen.

When Katie Taylor was only 18 on her first international competition at the 2004 Torneo Italia claimed the gold medal after beating experienced Jennifer Ogg of Canada in the final and started her long winning series.

She became European Champion in Tonsberg, Norway next year but despite of her perfect style and technic she lost the second contest against North Korean Kang Kum Hui at the 2005 AIBA Women's World Championships in Podolsk, Russia.

In 2006 Katie Taylor made a perfect year, she defended her European title in Warsaw and achieved her first World Championships gold medal in New Delhi, India with her five easily winning contests.

Katie Taylor defended her European title in Vejle in 2007 while she acquired her second World Championships gold in Ningbo two years ago where her first contest against Danuse Dilhofova of the Czech Republic was really close but after her short victory Katie Taylor won easily the Championships.

After the positive IOC decision that women boxing has been included to the London Summer Olympic Games another great female boxer Sofya Ochigava moved up into the Olympic 60kg weight class.

The 23-year-old two-time World Champion Russian athlete unexpectedly has defeated Katie Taylor at the Grand Prix Usti nad Labem Tournament this year but Ochigava won't be able to compete at the World Championships in Barbados therefore the most expected fight of the tournament on their re-match will be cancelled.

In Sofya Ochigava's absence Katie Taylor is the biggest favourite in Barbados at the Olympic 60kg weight division where her greatest rivals will be Turkish Prime Ministry Tournament winner Claire Ghabrial of Australia, multiple Panamerican Champion Adriana Araujo of Brazil, Asian Championships silver medalist North Korea's Ryu Yong Sim, newcomer Daria Abramova of Russia and Asian Champion Mavzuna Choriyeva of Tajikistan.

The Irish women squad included four boxers travelled to Bridgetown still in September 2 therefore Katie has got enough time to get acclimatized. There were many large competition in Katie Taylor's career where she was the only Irish boxer but she will have three compatriot at the World Championships now.

Article: The AIBA

Photo: IABA