KARINA KOPINSKA DWARFED Katie Taylor as the foes met for their obligatory pre-fight face-off, but what appeared to be one of the Pole’s few advantages heading into Saturday night’s bout was an illusion of sorts.
Former Olympic champion Taylor makes her pro debut this weekend at London’s Wembley Arena, taking on Poland’s Kopinska, and the foes met face-to-face for the first time at today’s pre-fight press conference at the Landmark Hotel in the Marylebone area of the English capital.
While Ireland’s five-time amateur world champion seemed to measure up slightly smaller than her 27-year-old opponent when they posed for photos, the fact that Kopinska was wearing high-heeled boots meant the height advantage was warped as the foes are actually closer in stature than they appeared (the Pole is only two inches taller than Taylor’s height of 5ft 5in).
“It’s a bit awkward, stare-offs, I don’t really know what to be doing,” laughed Taylor on the pro boxing tradition of opponents facing off for the cameras — one of many pre-fight hype novelties the Bray native would not have been used to in the amateur ranks.
The six-time European amateur champion joked: “I should’ve wore my high heels! I was looking up.
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“But [seriously] this is the start of something very special for me… I’ve always wanted to bring women’s boxing to new levels so this is the start of it.”
In keeping with an attempt to bring new interest to women’s pro boxing, the 30-year-old has been involved in an intense media build-up to her professional debut.
Thursday’s press event was Taylor’s third major media obligation in five days as promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sports and manager Brian Peters attempt to boost the Bray woman’s profile outside of Ireland ahead of her paid bow live on Sky Sports.
That is in sharp contrast to her relatively few media interactions during her glittering amateur career, but the 30-year-old said: “I think years ago it might have stressed me out, but I’ve enjoyed the whole process so far and the most important thing is that it hasn’t taken away from my focus for Saturday evening as well.”
The weekend’s bout is set to be contested at a 132lb weight limit — in keeping with Taylor’s amateur weight of 60kg, but slightly below the 135lb professional lightweight limit.
However, the Bray native has the advantage of an extra day to recover after Friday’s weigh-in unlike her amateur days when she had to make weight on the morning of every fight.
“It’s 132lbs – 60kg again – but just to have that extra day is going to be huge for me,” said Taylor, who will have new trainer Ross Enamait in her corner.
“I’m pretty much on the weight at the moment so I’ll just have a light session later on to work up a sweat and then I’ll be all set for tomorrow,” added the London 2012 champion ahead of the fight.
Kopinska – who carries a record of seven wins, 14 losses and three draws in to the bout – may be familiar to Irish fight fans as the Polish journeywoman was defeated in an entertaining small-hall tussle with Dundalk’s Christina McMahon in 2013, although that bout took place at a much lighter weight.
The Pole has only been stopped once in her career, so Kopinska will be keen to upset the lopsided bookmakers’ odds which see Taylor priced as a 1/100 favourite.
“I can’t wait for the fight. I know Katie Taylor is a very good boxer, the best amateur boxer in the world so I’m happy that I can fight her in her debut and I hope it’s a good fight,” said the Pole.
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'It’s a bit awkward, stare-offs, I don’t really know what to be doing' - Taylor
KARINA KOPINSKA DWARFED Katie Taylor as the foes met for their obligatory pre-fight face-off, but what appeared to be one of the Pole’s few advantages heading into Saturday night’s bout was an illusion of sorts.
Former Olympic champion Taylor makes her pro debut this weekend at London’s Wembley Arena, taking on Poland’s Kopinska, and the foes met face-to-face for the first time at today’s pre-fight press conference at the Landmark Hotel in the Marylebone area of the English capital.
While Ireland’s five-time amateur world champion seemed to measure up slightly smaller than her 27-year-old opponent when they posed for photos, the fact that Kopinska was wearing high-heeled boots meant the height advantage was warped as the foes are actually closer in stature than they appeared (the Pole is only two inches taller than Taylor’s height of 5ft 5in).
“It’s a bit awkward, stare-offs, I don’t really know what to be doing,” laughed Taylor on the pro boxing tradition of opponents facing off for the cameras — one of many pre-fight hype novelties the Bray native would not have been used to in the amateur ranks.
The six-time European amateur champion joked: “I should’ve wore my high heels! I was looking up.
“But [seriously] this is the start of something very special for me… I’ve always wanted to bring women’s boxing to new levels so this is the start of it.”
In keeping with an attempt to bring new interest to women’s pro boxing, the 30-year-old has been involved in an intense media build-up to her professional debut.
Thursday’s press event was Taylor’s third major media obligation in five days as promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sports and manager Brian Peters attempt to boost the Bray woman’s profile outside of Ireland ahead of her paid bow live on Sky Sports.
That is in sharp contrast to her relatively few media interactions during her glittering amateur career, but the 30-year-old said: “I think years ago it might have stressed me out, but I’ve enjoyed the whole process so far and the most important thing is that it hasn’t taken away from my focus for Saturday evening as well.”
The weekend’s bout is set to be contested at a 132lb weight limit — in keeping with Taylor’s amateur weight of 60kg, but slightly below the 135lb professional lightweight limit.
However, the Bray native has the advantage of an extra day to recover after Friday’s weigh-in unlike her amateur days when she had to make weight on the morning of every fight.
“It’s 132lbs – 60kg again – but just to have that extra day is going to be huge for me,” said Taylor, who will have new trainer Ross Enamait in her corner.
“I’m pretty much on the weight at the moment so I’ll just have a light session later on to work up a sweat and then I’ll be all set for tomorrow,” added the London 2012 champion ahead of the fight.
Kopinska – who carries a record of seven wins, 14 losses and three draws in to the bout – may be familiar to Irish fight fans as the Polish journeywoman was defeated in an entertaining small-hall tussle with Dundalk’s Christina McMahon in 2013, although that bout took place at a much lighter weight.
The Pole has only been stopped once in her career, so Kopinska will be keen to upset the lopsided bookmakers’ odds which see Taylor priced as a 1/100 favourite.
“I can’t wait for the fight. I know Katie Taylor is a very good boxer, the best amateur boxer in the world so I’m happy that I can fight her in her debut and I hope it’s a good fight,” said the Pole.
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