BOXING IABA AWARDS:KATIE TAYLOR won the boxer-of-the-year award at the Irish Amateur Boxing Association Annual Awards at the weekend. The Bray woman, the current World lightweight champion, claimed her fifth European title in-a-row in 2011, the IABA's Centenary year.
Taylor was also one of six boxers to receive elite international achievers awards, along with Joe Ward, Ray Moylette, John Joe Nevin, Darren O’Neill and Michael Conlan. All will be taking part in the senior championships, which begin next weekend in the National Stadium.
Moylette and Ward, who secured gold at the 2008 and 2010 World Youth Championships in Mexico and Azerbaijan, won double gold for Ireland at the 2011 European Senior Championships.
Nevin, O’Neill and Conlan qualified for the 2012 Olympics in London from the 2011 World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, with Nevin creating history in becoming the first Irish male boxer to win two medals at world level.
Katie Taylor’s father and coach, Peter Taylor, said: “Katie is absolutely delighted with the award. The previous 12 months were a big year for Irish boxing and 2012 will be crucial with the Olympic qualifiers for men and women and the Olympic Games.”
Ross Hickey picked up the elite individual award. Christy Joyce, Michael O’Reilly, Dylan Carr and Darren Pollock were also honoured in this category. Dominic O’Rourke, Billy Walsh, Dominic Kiernan, Joe Hennigan and Gerry Callan collected outstanding services awards.
AWARDS – Best Boxer:Katie Taylor (Bray); Elite International Achievers: Joe Ward (Moate), Ray Moylette (St Anne's) John Joe Nevin (Cavan), Darren O'Neill (Paulstown), Michael Conlan (St John Bosco) Katie Taylor (Bray); Individual Awards Elite: Ross Hickey (Grangecon); Intermediate: Christy Joyce (St Michael's Athy); Youth: Michael O'Reilly (Portlaoise); Junior: Dylan Carr (Ryston); Schoolboy: Darren Pollock (St Agnes); Best Club: Ryston BC; Hall of Fame Boxer: Jim O'Sullivan; Best Referee and Judge: Ferdie Walsh (Loughrea); Special Award: Michael Gallagher (Tyrone); Special Award for Services to Boxing: Dominic Kiernan (Wexford CBS); Special Award for Outstanding Services: Dominic O'Rourke; High Performance Award: Billy Walsh.
