KATIE TAYLOR HAS urged the Irish Amateur Boxing Association to award a new contract to influential coach Zaur Antia following the Irish boxers’ triumphant performances at the London Olympics.
The future of Antia, along with Billy Walsh, has yet to be secured, and in an interview with Newstalk, Taylor said losing such an important figure would be “detrimental” to Irish boxing.
She expressed hope that the Georgian coach would be offered a new contract and added:
“He is a genius and he’s changed Irish boxing forever.
“We used to always fight with heart, but now we fight with technical elements.
“He doesn’t get enough recognition – I’ve never seen anyone so passionate about sport.”
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Meanwhile, as regards her future plans, she said she would probably play “a bit of club football over the next few weeks,” but explained that she “couldn’t commit” to international football, despite saying that “my best friends are all with the football team”.
She reiterated that she would consider any offers to go into professional women’s boxing, but added:
“Whether I turn professional or stay amateur, it’d be great to defend my Olympic gold medal in Rio.”
Taylor also elaborated on her much-publicised relationship with God, saying:
“I think it has developed a lot more [as I've gotten older], but I grew up in a Christian household.
“It’s so much more than boxing for me – it’s a relationship with God as well.
“If I just put things in his hands, whatever the outcome is, it’s in his hands.”
And while she recognises that the next few weeks are going to be “hectic,” Taylor said that she ultimately wants to “go back to living a quiet life” and added that “the media won’t get a look in” when she returns to training.
Taylor urges IABA to award new contract to Antia
KATIE TAYLOR HAS urged the Irish Amateur Boxing Association to award a new contract to influential coach Zaur Antia following the Irish boxers’ triumphant performances at the London Olympics.
The future of Antia, along with Billy Walsh, has yet to be secured, and in an interview with Newstalk, Taylor said losing such an important figure would be “detrimental” to Irish boxing.
She expressed hope that the Georgian coach would be offered a new contract and added:
Meanwhile, as regards her future plans, she said she would probably play “a bit of club football over the next few weeks,” but explained that she “couldn’t commit” to international football, despite saying that “my best friends are all with the football team”.
She reiterated that she would consider any offers to go into professional women’s boxing, but added:
“Whether I turn professional or stay amateur, it’d be great to defend my Olympic gold medal in Rio.”
Taylor also elaborated on her much-publicised relationship with God, saying:
And while she recognises that the next few weeks are going to be “hectic,” Taylor said that she ultimately wants to “go back to living a quiet life” and added that “the media won’t get a look in” when she returns to training.
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Billy Walsh Gold medal Interview Irish Amateur Boxing Association Katie Taylor London London 2012 London2012 Olympic Park Olympics Stratford team ireland Women's Boxing Zaur Antia