(JULY 24)  Much excitement in Irish – and indeed international – boxing circles this week at the prospect of Olympic Gold medallist and five times World 60kg champion Katie Taylor, appearing on the undercard of the Andy Lee vs Billy Joe Saunders WBO middleweight championship fight. For now though that is just what it is – a possibility.

That fight takes place on 19th September at Thomond Park, Limerick, home of Munster Rugby, and is likely to attract a sell-out 34,000 crowd in Limerick as well as being shown LIVE on TV and via Live Streaming.

Will Taylor though be part of that bill? That remains the outstanding question as yet unresolved.

Clearly Limerick man ,Andy Lee wants her to be part of this great occasion as he explained at a Media Conference in London yesterday.

“I would like to see Katie Taylor on the undercard. I’m very proud of what she’s done, the whole country is very proud of what she has done. It would be a good chance for me to give back to the boxing fans and her really for all she’s done, the Olympics, five times world champion, European champion and an unbelievable sportsperson from Ireland.”

“Katie Taylor has transcended the boxing World in Sport in Ireland she has crossed over. She is not just a boxer she is a household name. Katie has done more for female boxing than anybody has. She has fought all over the World and won all over the World but people don’t get to see her fight at home. This is a chance for me to put her on a stage at home in front of 34,000 people and people can appreciate Katie. It is a little way to say thank you for what she has done for the country of Ireland.”

The WBO title bout is co-promoted by Frank Warren and by Lee’s trainer Adam Booth who had this to say:

“I’ve had communication with her dad, with the IABA — the Irish Amateur Boxing Association, and I’ve communication with AIBA — the Amateur International Boxing Association. I’ve had good conversations with them but there are still a few hurdles to cross.

“It’s about the amateur and pro thing. We know all the problems that need to be resolved and we’ll see if we can. The talks are not yet positive or negative, we’re just fact-finding at the moment and talks continue.”

Those talks include not only the AIBA/IABA but also Frank Warren himself, not exactly a great supporter of women’s boxing.

Warren did not appear at ease when the subject of Women’s boxing and a possible Taylor appearance was raised but did say he would not oppose the bout if it was approved.

“I’m entitled to my opinion,” he said. “Me personally, it’s not for me.” Co-promoter Booth added to Warren’s unease by suggesting that : “That would be a reason to put Katie Taylor on, not just because she’s an Irish heroine and she’s a female champion, but Frank has always gone on about how he hates female boxing.”

Saunders himself is no supporter of women boxing either as though he did not refer to Taylor (who is in U.S at present) he has made it clear on iFL TV that he doesn’t like to see women get punched in the face but he takes nothing away from the achievements of the likes of Nicola Adams and Katie Taylor.

Andy Lee chipped in : “I’m fighting for women’s rights. I’m championing women’s boxing. I’m championing women’s equal rights.”

Insofar as Team Taylor is concerned, Katie’s coach and Dad Peter had this to ‘BoxingNewsOnline’ : “She could possibly be boxing on that, we’re just waiting for confirmation from the AIBA.

“It would be brilliant. She boxed on the Bernard Dunne show before and she got a great reception to fight just before Bernard. There were 10,000 people there. She was on the same Irish team as Andy Lee when he was an amateur and we know Andy really well. To box on that show would be unbelievable. It would be a great showcase for female boxing and ‘amateur’ boxing as well.”

On the subject of Katie’s future in the sport, her Dad expressed the view that he believed that the AIBA would soon include semi-pro bouts for women boxers.

“There’s definitely going to be WSB [World Series Boxing] for females and I think the headgear’s coming off as well, which is going to be exciting for the girls,” he told Boxing News. “They’re supposed to be on par with the men’s boxing… If it’s off for the boys for medical reasons it obviously has to be off for the girls for medical reasons.”

He continued, “I think she’ll consider her pro options after the next Olympics. I don’t think there’s the strength in depth there really in the pros at the moment. I think all the top female boxers are still amateur. I think when the competition gets stronger, I think if it does get stronger after Rio, I think she would consider going pro then. At the moment amateur boxing’s much stronger than professional women’s boxing.

“I think she wants to be recognized as the best female boxer of all-time. That alone just motivates her.”

So now, all must await the AIBA decision on whether to approve or not but in the view of WBAN if the AIBA is indeed serious in its various statements to promote women’s boxing then surely it is in its own best interests as well as that of all women I boxing to allow Taylor to appear on that Limerick bill?

What a great advert for women’s boxing – and thus for the AIBA – to have an Olympic amateur’ champion fight in front of a near capacity 34,000 crowd at Thomond Park on 19th September and demonstrate to the watching world at home and overseas just what a fine champion the AIBA has in its midst.