Amy Broadhurst aiming to qualify for Olympics as UK boxer

Irish former world champion boxer Amy Broadhurst looks set for a sensational switch to representing the United Kingdom in a bid to qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris.

The Dundalk native previously represented Northern Ireland, qualifying through her English-born father Tony.

Broadhurst was told by the Irish Athletic Boxing Association last week that she would not be going forward to the final Olympic qualifying tournament in May.

Gráinne Walsh defeated Broadhurst in the Irish welterweight (66kg) national final in January 2023. Broadhurst was then on the brink of qualification at that weight but lost to the UK's ' Rosie Eccles in the quarter-finals at the European Games last June.

Walsh was controversially beaten in the first Olympic qualifying tournament in Italy earlier this month and the IABA has decided to send the Offaly woman, rather than Broadhurst or former 70kg world champion Lisa O'Rourke, to the final qualifier in Bangkok.

Broadhurst swept the European, Commonwealth and World Championship titles at super lightweight/light welterweight (63kg) in 2022 but that is not an Olympic weight.

The 27-year-old is believed to favour competing at lightweight (60kg) but countries can only qualify only boxer per weight for Paris and reigning Olympic lightweight champion Kellie Harrington has already secured qualification.

The UK do not have a boxer qualified at 60kg though, meaning the pair could potentially meet in Paris, if Broadhurst's application is fast-tracked by the International Olympic Council and she secured a place at the final tournament in Thailand.

In a statement, the IABA said that while it was disappointed with Broadhurst's decision, it would not oppose an application to switch nationality.

"We were contacted by