Katie Taylor will reportedly join Olympic teammates Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan in the professional ranks, in what might be a mammoth move for Irish boxing.
Irish boxing sage Kevin Byrne of The Irish Sun has followed the story for some time, and earlier this month reported that Matchroom's Eddie Hearn was keen to accrue the services of the legendary Taylor, who was reported to be considering her options.
Earlier this month, the 2012 Olympic champion told The Star:
I’m weighing up my options at the moment and speaking to a few promoters in the pro game.
I love the Olympic Games as well so it is a hard decision for me to make.
That is why I am taking the time to make the decision and I’m going try to make sure I make the right one.
The Sun have now confirmed that her decision has been made, and suggest that Taylor - still just 30 - will make her professional debut at Wembley Arena on November 26th, live on Sky Sports.
New goals for Katie Taylor: taking over the pro gamehttps://t.co/Ld1LAedFtO
— Kevin Byrne (@KevByrneBox) October 25, 2016
Hull's Tommy Coyle tops the bill in a clash with Essex junior welter John Wayne Hibbert, but Taylor - who has been sponsored by Sky since prior to the London Olympics - will add some much-needed pizzazz to an otherwise ordinary bill.
The Bray woman's decision to turn professional will comes as a blow to the IABA, but on the flipside will provide a massive boost to the professional game on this island, as it likely means Matchroom and Sky Sports will return to Dublin in the near future.
Taylor ends her amateur career having won an unfathomable 18 major gold medals, including six World Championships and Olympic gold at London 2012. She will go down as one of the greatest amateur fighters - male or female - in boxing history, and will look to replicate her dominance in the professional sport's lightweight division.
For more details, head to The Irish Sun.
