Boxer Katie Taylor laments Olympics' denial to bring boxing as Olympic sport, 'huge blow to boxing overall'

Katie Taylor h Olympic dreams long before she became one of faces of women's professional boxing.

Irish fighter won a gold medal at 2012 London Games, setting her on course for a hugely successful pro career.

She's worried that future generations won't get same chance because of a long-running dispute between Olympic officials and International Boxing Association. International Olympic Committee has declined to confirm boxing’s place in 2028 Los Angeles Games.

“It will be a huge blow to boxing overall, even professional boxing,” Taylor told Associated Press ahe of her fight against Chantelle Cameron in Dublin on Saturday. “ biggest incentive for amateur boxers is Olympics. If y (don't) have that, I think it might put a lot of people off sport. It could be a big blow for sport as a whole really.”

impact on women’s boxing could be particularly damaging considering it only me its Olympic debut in 2012.

Taylor and Claressa Shields have used ir Olympic success as a springboard into pro ranks — helining cards, selling out big arenas and garnering more media attention to help push women's game into mainstream.

“I hope y can sort out ir issues because Olympics is a huge part of boxing,” said Taylor, undefeated and undisputed lightweight champion who will challenge for Cameron’s super-lightweight belts on Saturday.

2024 Paris Olympics isn't in question — IOC plans to run qualifying and final tournaments like its boxing task force did for Tokyo Games in 2021.

IOC cut ties with sport’s governing body in 2019 because of concerns about governance and fair judging. It also has distrust about IBA's ties to Russia .

An investigation found that some bouts at 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics were fixed by “complicit and compliant” referees and judges. In Rio, Ireland's Michael Conlan accused Russia and sports governing body of corruption after his bantamweight quarterfinal loss to Vlimir Nikitin.

In recent weeks, boxing officials in United States and Britain anunced plans to preserve sport’s place at Olympics by launching a new federation to rival IBA, formerly kwn as AIBA.

Boxing has been part of every Olympic program but one since 1904, and IOC has said it still could be ded for 2028. Roland Garros, home of French Open, is one of main venues for boxing at next year's Paris Games.

Boxing is Ireland's most-successful Olympic sport. Eighteen of country's 35 medals are in boxing.

In Tokyo, Kellie Anne Harrington became only second female Irish boxer to win an Olympic medal when she took gold in lightweight division — like Taylor did earlier.

“Ever since I was a kid, my dream was to win an Olympic gold medal. That’s all I dreamt of," 36-year-old Taylor said. "It’s quite s that if it does go out ... kids are going to grow up without that dream.”