(JAN 26)  Fans of the ‘amateur’ sport will be delighted to hear that many times USA & Pan American champion Queen Underwood’s last fight as an amateur is likely to take place in Ireland on February 20th with ‘ usually reliable sources’ suggesting the bout is set to be in Kerry and organised by one of the local clubs, perhaps Tralee BC.

One can never rule out though the very enterprising Trojan BC in Listowel under Head Coach Grahame Ball, Club Secretary Maria Brosnan and Kerry PRO, Niamh Ball herself an Irish champion at various grades and likely to take part if the fight takes place in Kerry
Underwood’s opponent? None other than Ireland’s own Olympic Gold medallist from London 2012, Katie Taylor who the previous night in Kanturk, Co. Cork will have met Sweden’s champion Jelena Jelic who is also qualified to represent Serbia in international competition. Taylor will be using the bout as part of her final preparations for the Rio 2016 tournaments in the weeks ahead beginning with the EUBC AOB Olympic qualifiers in Sansun, Turkey in early April.

No official confirmation yet of the Taylor v Underwood bout but sources in both countries suggest an agreement is close and a formal announcement is expected in the coming days. One possible venue is the Brandon Hotel & Conference Centre in Tralee which has housed previous club tournaments and with its good road, air and rail links would be within easy reach of those wishing to attend from nearby counties and further afield.

Who will forget that Underwood was within seconds of inflicting a sensational defeat on Taylor back in the 2010 AIBA World championships in Barbados, when with the fight all but ‘lost’ the Bray woman made an amazing comeback in the last few seconds to emerge victorious (18:16) and later go on to take her 3rd AIBA World Lightweight title.

 

Now two world titles later, the Bray woman, is aiming not only for a 6th in a row title in Kazakhstan in 2016 and of course hopes to qualify for a tilt at a 2nd successive Olympic Gold in Rio. First though Taylor like all female boxers has to finish in the top 2 in the European AOB qualifier in Sansun, Turkey or a top 4 finish in Astana in the Worlds. Should Taylor take a 6th in a row in Astana she would equal the “all-time record” number of wins by Cuba’s Felix Savon though let us not overlook India’s Mary Kom who also holds five world AIBA titles.

More news on the Taylor v Underwood bout when we have it inc location and ticketing details.