Ireland's Katie Taylor set for pro boxing debut

Ireland's Katie Taylor set for pro boxing debut

LONDON - Irish boxing heroine Katie Taylor will make her eagerly anticipated professional debut against Karina Kopinska at London's Wembley Arena on November 26, promoters Matchroom announced Monday.

Ireland's Katie Taylor (R), seen in August 2016, enjoyed a brilliant amateur career that yielded five world titles, six European titles and gold at the 2012 London Olympics

The 30-year-old Taylor enjoyed a brilliant amateur career that yielded five world titles, six European titles and gold at the 2012 London Olympics.

However, she suffered a shock quarter-final loss at this year's Games in Rio.

Taylor's bout with Poland's Kopinska, will take place at super-featherweight.

Kopinska, who has won seven of her 24 professional bouts, took World Boxing Council (WBC) super-featherweight champion Eva Wahlstrom of Finland the distance.

The 27-year-old has also fought in London before, at York Hall in 2014.

Explaining her decision to turn pro last month, Taylor said: I'm excited for the road ahead.

"When I first dreamt of Olympic gold, female boxing was practically unknown.

"Now because of my journey and the incredible supporters who came along with me, female boxing is as much part of the fabric of the Olympics as its male counterpart.

"I want to do the same for the professional sport and I hope those who have supported me along the way will come along with me."

The Kopinska bout is intended to set Taylor up for a clash with an as yet unnamed opponent on the undercard of fellow London 2012 gold medallist Anthony Joshua's International Boxing Federation (IBF) world heavyweight title defence against Eric Molina in Manchester, northern England on December 10.

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