OLYMPIC, WORLD AND European champion Katie Taylor will have a challenger for her title at the National Elite Championships.
Reigning U22 and intermediate champion Louise Donohoe has entered in the 60kg division and will face Taylor on finals night.
The Geesala BC lightweight has already won nine national titles in her young career and now prepares to test herself against the best in the world.
With a shortage of opponents willing to face her, Taylor has won the national title unopposed in recent years. EU bronze medallist Alanna Audley-Murphy was due to take her on in 2014 but was forced to withdraw due to a family bereavement.
A total of 93 boxers — 67 male and 26 female — have registered for Nationals which begin this Friday night, 9 January, at the National Stadium.
Five-time champion Eric Donovan has been ruled out with a rib injury while lightweight and light-heavweight champions David Oliver Joyce and Joe Ward have vacated their titles to sign with AIBA Pro Boxing.
But London Olympians Michael Conlan, Adam Nolan and Darren O’Neill have all entered, the latter making the step up to fight at heavyweight.
Orginally thought that Ulster getting though to last 16 with one win, was a poor reflection on the new format, but on review when you have the 2 best teams in the pool, beating everyone and picking ip 20 and 19 points, then naturally the 3rd and 4th place teams in that pool will have lower points than other pools. Its actually more a reflection on the strenght of the pool. Anyway for Ulster, should go on a winning run now and move up the table, Zebre, Benetton (without internationals), Scarlets (without internationals) Dragons all very winnable and hopefully have injuries returning too. Cardiff and Scarlets will also drop down the table with harder fixtures now untill end of season.
@Kingshu: I guess that’s one way of looking at it. The reality is Ulster are a poor poor side. I’m holding back quite a bit in my assessment of a ulster for fear of upsetting lads this early.
@Ray Ridge: Very thoughtful of you but I think we’d be OK. The bottom line is that Ulster finished fourth out of six which, as per all the groups, was sufficient to qualify. The nature of the draw makes things extremely uneven and getting two of the three most dangerous teams in it was obviously unhelpful. Had the Tigers come to Belfast instead of Bordeaux then Ulster would very likely have come third.
@Ray Ridge: dont disagree. I thought we’d be better off this season but back three and sub props huge issue currently. Hopefully can pick up a run of wins as the Cardiff game was 5 points we threw away , same thing for the Munster game.
Top 6 would be ideal, not sure we could take the financial hit of no Champ Cup next year but we need to improve to compete. No point finishing 6th every year and going out last 16 in Europe.
Hate to go after him again and again, but defence coach is the biggest issue and until Bell is gone, I can’t see us improving consistently and pushing on under Murphy.
@Kingshu: thought there was no prestige in the comp anymore …?
@Kingshu: love the new format ulster will definitly improve from the last time they played hopefully a shock win
@Ray Ridge: Poor side ??? Lot’s young good player’s good coach as well have you anything nice to say ???
@adizlack93: not none, just less than there was, likewise URC has gained more prestige than the Celtic/magners/Pro 12 ever had, but was still a good win before.
@Kevin: Ray hates to see any Irish sportspeople or teams do well. Has to be the last person one can expect to say anything nice about
@Kingshu: La Rochelle would be nobodies without this competition. Instead, they are globally renowned as a great team as they are two time champions. In your eyes it may have lost prestige as Ulster can’t compete but it is still regarded as the best club competition globally and extremely highly regarded by the Toulouse’s of this world, who are the biggest club team there is. Format changes have definitely caused a loss of interest and we can thank England, France and Covid for that. The URC is much improved but still vastly inferior as a competition.
@Ray Ridge: I don’t think Ulster are a poor poor side as you say. It’s a very young team with a lot of upside, after the bulk of experience has been torn out. We’re missing players in pivotal positions, like at 10 and prop. We needed help there, but IRFU are a bit asleep at the wheel while cash funnelled elsewhere. I have a feeling this team will come good. But that takes time when you’re dropping in 10 players around the age of 22 in there. Leinster can do it bit by bit, 2 or 3 young lads in with experienced lads. Our fellas are learning and now have a good run of games to get experience and confidence. Next year or after will show where these can be
@Kevin
In comparison to Ray’s usual comments whilst trolling Provincial and the National side’s platforms, that’s as nice as it gets…