AS Katie Taylor boxes for what her father hopes will be the last time today (4.45), Arsenal are understood to be lining up a bid to sign the Olympic gold-medal contender.

Pete Taylor believes the time is ripe for his daughter to pursue a gentler lifestyle and admitted that Arsenal are among a number of professional football clubs showing an interest in the former Irish international.

Taylor was capped more than 40 times for her country before devoting herself full-time to the quest for an Olympic boxing gold.

Arsenal already have a high-profile Irish player on their books as Leixlip native Emma Byrne has been their No 1 goalkeeper for the last 11 years.

The Gunners are the leading lights in the English ladies game, boasting 12 Premier League titles, and Byrne helped them to win the final of the UEFA Women's Cup in 2007.

"We haven't spoken about it, but I hope this is her last fight" said Pete after yesterday's 17-9 defeat of Mavzuna Chorieva.

"Like, she's done everything, she's been boxing a long time now, she's sacrificed her life for boxing at the moment.

decision

"Obviously, it's not my decision, it's Katie's decision. Whatever decision she makes, I will back her.

"We'll sit down as a family and speak about it. Maybe she'll go back playing a little football, it's a little bit safer (laughing)."

Asked about the rumoured Arsenal interest, Pete revealed: "Ya, she's got a good few teams interested in her at the moment, but she's got to get back playing.

"But, look, we'll concentrate on this final first, then we'll go away for a holiday and sit down. We'll stay away from boxing for a couple of months anyway.

"She needs to regenerate now because she has had a tough career, over 150 fights now I think and all senior fights, all international fights.

"She doesn't have club fights, they're all international opponents. They just take a lot out of you at the end of the day."

Katie herself said she was gearing up for the biggest day of her life.

"It's amazing, really" said the four-times world champion.

"This is what I dreamed of all my life and now I have the chance to box for a gold medal. It's incredible."

Irish Independent