FeaturesHeadline News

Who is Nina Meinke? All you need to know about Katie Taylor’s Wembley foe

Katie Taylor [4(2)-0] will make the step up to ten-round title fights tonight

The Wicklow lightweight will box in a world title eliminator, with the WBA International belt on the line, on the Anthony Joshua v Wladimir Klitschko heavyweight title undercard at Wembley Stadium at around 7:00pm.

Her opponent here will be German Nina Meinke from Spandau, Berlin, and below is everything you need to know about Taylor’s next foe.

24 year old Meinke holds a 5(2)-0 record since turning pro in May of last year.

Before this, the Berliner was a top amateur, honing her skills as a youngster at Westway ABC in Scarborough during her schooling in England – which came after she moved to chase a teenage sweetheart.

While in England she would finish runner-up at the 2010 English Youth Championships. Following her return to Germany, Meinke would finish runner-up in the German Elite Senior championships at featherweight and lightweight in 2014 and 2015 respectively, with both results proving controversial.

In addition to this, Meinke competed as a featherweight for Germany at the 2014 World Championships in Jeju, South Korea. Taylor won lightweight gold at the tournament, while her upcoming opponent reached the Last 16, beating Brazilian Tayna Cardosa before bowing out to eventual gold medalist Zinaida Dobrynina of Russia.

Earlier in 2014 Meinke also boxed Irish opposition, Alanna Nihell – who was Katie Taylor’s first ever opponent way back on Hallowe’en night 2001.

Irish-Boxing.com spoke to Nihell about this fight earlier in the week.

Meinke is trained by Udo Ziebarth, however she also receives help from her godfather and former undefeated IBF and WBA super middleweight champion Sven Ottke.

Since turning pro less than a year ago, the Spandau boxer quickly strung together five wins and claimed a rankings title.

In her third fight, in August, Meinke faced Taylor’s debut opponent Karina Kopinska. While Taylor would score a stoppage in the third round, Meinke would win a four-round unanimous points decision (40:36 x2, 40:37).

‘The Brave’ Meinke would grab the vacant WBC Youth super featherweight title in her fifth fight with a first round technical knockout win. Here she won inside the first minute against Hasna Tukic, with the Bosnian pulling out with an injured hand.

A young speedy southpaw bursting with confidence, Meinke will offer Taylor a different challenge than her previous four foes, however it’s hard to imagine anything other than the Irishwoman’s hand being raised at around 7:30pm tonight.

LISTEN: Mick Conlan joins Gavan Casey and Joe O’Neill on Episode 4 of The Irish Boxing Show

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

x