PRESIDENT MICHAEL D Higgins and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar are among those who have congratulated Katie Taylor on her first professional boxing world title.

After an unprecedentedly successful amateur career, Taylor joined the professional ranks less than a year ago and has already become a world champion.

The Bray native defeated Anahi Sanchez at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium last night after being granted a unanimous decision victory by the bout’s judges.

The victory made Taylor the WBA world lightweight champion.

Taylor fresh success has prompted Ireland’s top politicians to pay tribute to her achievements with President Higgins speaking about her in Auckland, New Zealand.

He said:

“May I offer my sincere congratulations to Katie Taylor on her first world title in professional boxing.”

This success, which follows her five world amateur titles and her Olympic gold medal, is a testament to Katie’s talent, power and skills as well as an outstanding determination and dedication to her profession.

“On behalf of the people of Ireland I send her my congratulations on winning this world title.”

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also paid tribute to Taylor, calling her “an Irish sporting legend”.

‘This is an incredible achievement for Katie. We are all aware of her amateur exploits in winning five world titles and Olympic gold. Now she has proven her undoubted class in her transition to the professional ranks and, in a very short period of time, becoming a world champion once again,” he said.

“It is a great day for Katie and the country. She has cemented her status as an Irish sporting legend and as one of our greatest ever sporting ambassadors. Well done again Katie.”

Read: Katie Taylor dominates Anahi Sanchez to win her first world title as a professional >

Read: ‘Maybe when she becomes world champion, she might find problems down the line’ >

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