(MAR
14) Having practically raised the roof at the Excel
Arena during last year's Olympic Games Katie Taylor
is hoping that Irish fans can repeat the trick on
home soil for her bouts in Dublin and Castlebar
later this month.
The
Irish fans famously topped the charts at last years
games as the atmosphere for Taylor's fights reached
fever pitch with a sound level of 113.7 decibels
recorded at the Excel Arena in London's docklands.
It was the highest decibel level recorded at the
games and fell just short of the noise created by a
jet engine. Now Taylor's fans will get the
opportunity to recreate that atmosphere when she
returns to the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin on
Friday, March 22nd before heading West on Sunday,
March 24th for a bout at the Royal Theatre in
Castlebar.
The
Olympic Gold medallist tackles Ukrainian champ Yulia
Tsiplakova in Dublin before facing old rival, Denitsa
Eliseeva – the last boxer to have secured a
‘victory’
over Taylor, in Castlebar. Having already fought in
front of a packed house at the Bord Gáis Energy
Theatre last month with a comprehensive win over
German champion Maike Klueners promoter Brian Peters
believes fans will raise the roof for their hero
once again.
"Obviously it's pretty hard to recreate the emotion
and tension from the Olympics but the Bord Gáis
Energy Theatre certainly lived up to it's name last
month," said Peters. "It was rocking for Katie's
fight so we're going to measure the decibels there
on Friday week and then again on Sunday in Castlebar
to see how they compare to the Olympics.
"If
anyone's worth making a lot of noise for it's Katie
Taylor. She was terrific against Klueners and the
frightening prospect for her competitors is that she
still seems to be improving. Despite having won five
European Championships, four World titles and an
Olympic Gold medal the hunger she still has is
unbelievable."
Taylor is relishing the prospect of
another two fights in quick succession as part of
her preparations for the upcoming European Union
Championships which will take place in Hungary.
"It
was like the Excel Arena all over again stepping
into the ring at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. I got
a huge reception from the fans and it really lifts
you. I was happy with my performance but I'm always
looking to improve and it's those little
improvements that can be the difference when it
comes to the major championships."
Katie's father and trainer Pete is keen to stress
how seriously they are approaching this months
bouts. "I don't think people realise just how
seriously Katie and her opponents are taking these
bouts," said Pete. "Katie's approach is to treat
every fight as if it's an Olympic final and to never
look beyond her next fight. For the opponents it's a
massive opportunity for them to take on a reigning
Olympic Champion on a big show so they all raise
their game because of that. Katie is the girl they
all want to beat now so it's a lot of pressure on
Katie but she handles it brilliantly."
Taylor's opponent in Castlebar, Denitsa
Eliseeva is the last woman
to have had her hand raised against Taylor. Eliseeva
was awarded a controversial points win over Taylor
just over two years ago in a multi nations
tournament in her native Bulgaria and there was
little doubt that it was a hometown decision.
"Whenever people say that she is the last girl to
beat Katie I always correct them and say she was the
last to get a decision over her," explained Pete.
"Nobody in the arena outside of the judges thought
that Katie lost that fight. Katie has avenged every
defeat she’s ever had and she beat Eliseeva later
that same year so we're looking forward to meeting
her again in Castlebar."
Joining Taylor in action on the March 22nd Bord Gáis
Energy Theatre bill will be the 2012 Olympic team
captain and European Silver medallist Darren
O'Neill.
While in Castlebar the bill will also feature local
hero and European Champion Ray Moylette and Taylor's
Olympic and Bray boxing club team mate, Adam Nolan
in separate bouts along with a host of local talent.
Tickets for Katie
Taylor’s bout at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in
Dublin on Friday, March 22nd are priced from €40
(with discounted tickets available for Under 14's
from €25) and are available from Ticketmaster.ie
(0818 719 377) or the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre box
office.
Tickets for Katie
Taylor's bout at the Royal Theatre, Castlebar on
Sunday, March 24nd are priced from €25 and available
from Ticketmaster.ie or the Royal Theatre Box Office
(0818 300 000). A booking fee may apply.