BOXING BOSSES HAVE scrapped plans to hold this year’s National Elite Championship finals in Citywest.

The Irish Amateur Boxing Association confirmed yesterday that the finals card on 22 February, which features Katie Taylor’s first fight as Olympic champion, will be held in Dublin’s National Stadium as originally planned.

By moving the national showpiece to the larger capacity Citywest Hotel the IABA hoped to capitalise on the success of Taylor and the Irish team, who brought home a gold, a silver and two bronze medals from London last summer.

But the decision would have “financially compromised” the Association, President Tommy Murphy said.

We all witnessed the enormous crowds that supported our boxers at the Olympic Games in London and the tremendous atmosphere they created and we were trying reach out to that audience.

However, following consultation with the IABA Officer Board today we have now decided to hold the entire tournament at the National Stadium.

Tickets already bought for the Citywest Hotel will be honoured, with further ticket information to be announced in due course.

The National Championships begin tomorrow evening (7pm) at the National Stadium.

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