TENDER WARRIOR
defeat, Katie had been World Amateur Champion for 3,470 days! Katie then won her first professional world title in October 2017 and hasn’t been without a belt since then – that’s almost 3,000 days! Thousands of days – close to HALF of her life – as a reigning champion. “Looking back, it was amazing to fight as a young girl and then turn pro,” Katie said. “Women’s boxing was nonexistent. We were all getting paid pennies. Fast- forward nine years later, and it’s on a whole new level. I am proud to say that we headlined Madison Square
still burn?” I asked Katie. “I wouldn’t still be boxing if the fire wasn’t there,” she exclaimed. “It’s the reason I am still in the sport. I wake up so grateful that I do something I absolutely love every single day – the cold runs, the ups and downs of training camps, when I feel myself getting ready for a fight. If there ever was a time I wasn’t, I would hang up the gloves.” Katie had remained unbeaten as a professional until she faced Chantelle Cameron in May 2023. That defeat in front of her Irish faithful was obviously hard to take.
“I would love the opportunity to fight in Riyadh,” Katie told me. “What Turki’s doing – making all these incredible fights happen and opening up the doors to so many boxers – there’s too many fights that didn’t happen a few years ago, and now we are seeing the best fighting the best. It’s exactly what boxing needed. These huge 50/50 fights are happening, and it’s amazing to see. I hope he gives female fighters more. I would love to fight there!” With the cheesecake finished and the tea lukewarm, there was just time to talk about life after sport – an area that
Garden, and we achieved the first million-dollar purse that women’s boxing always wanted. Looking at the next generation, they are going to be even better than us, and I can’t wait to watch them!” Katie was on a roll. “Sometimes I am very surprised by the adoration. But if I have the chance to inspire one person in my life, that makes all the hard work, the punches, the early mornings, the treacherous training camps worth it. That’s the most satisfying part of the whole journey, knowing that young girls with dreams won’t have
fascinates me, especially with someone like Katie who is so obsessed with boxing. “Every now and then I think about it, as I know I can’t do this forever,” she admitted. “I don’t want to get punched in the face for the rest of my life. Maybe coaching or managing. When I hang up the gloves, I will have a clearer direction. I am not going to be one of those people who will just sit back and do nothing. I want a purpose in life, a challenge to get me up again, and I will need that when I retire from the sport.” However, after around
“Sometimes I am very surprised by the adoration. But if I have the chance to inspire one person in my life, that makes all the hard work, the punches, the early mornings, the treacherous training camps worth it.”
Taylor-Serrano 2 was the real fight at the AT&T Stadium.
think he can actually comprehend quite what she has achieved in a boxing ring. Saying that, I’m not sure any of us in the sport still really understand how unbelievable Katie Taylor is. Dressing up as a boy just to enter competitions before capturing an unprecedented six European championships, five Worlds and the Olympic gold that made her the best female amateur of them all. For Katie to then lead the revolution of female boxing, become the undisputed world lightweight and junior welterweight champion, shining in so many breathtaking fights, puts her right up there with the best sportswomen in any sport of any era. “Are you really a boxer?” I remember my dad asking her. Katie is so gentle that anyone who hasn’t seen her fight would never guess what she does. That summer evening on the Cape, she slipped into the boisterous family environment with her light Irish humor –
showing that she takes on any situation. “When are you coming back?” I asked her as she tucked into a particularly rare cheesecake treat back in that London tea room. “I’d love to see your family – but Adam, let’s get this Serrano trilogy finished first!” “Was your family really the key for you, Katie?” I wondered. “My family has been amazing,” she said. “My parents told me as a young girl that I would change boxing. My brothers and sister are my biggest supporters; they never miss a fight. I wouldn’t be here without that family support. The hardships that Katie faced as a 10-, 11-year-old unable to fight “as a girl” were extraordinary. The Taylor family always believed in her, and early amateur tournaments and sparring sessions in all parts of the world molded her. “I’ll tell you what really made me who I am today,” she continued.
“The old training camps with all the Russians, the Ukrainians – and I was the only female fighter there. Every time I went to spar, they were all sniggering and laughing, saying this guy has to go in with a girl. I had to prove myself every single time, and that prepared me for all the big fights I have today. I am so grateful I went through that. But at the same time, I am so grateful that no other female fighter has to go through that. It was a hard road but made me so much stronger mentally and physically. Some of those spars were harder than any one of my fights. They were wars.” Back in November 2006, Taylor won her first amateur world championship, then reaffirmed her reign every two years before losing to Estelle Mossely at the beginning of 2016. Before that
to go through the same struggles that I went through. The likes of Deirdre Gogarty, Laila Ali, Christy Martin, Lucia Rijker, Ann Wolfe, Jane Couch ... all paved the way, and that’s everything for me, much more important than any belt or medal – making the road easier for the next generation.” Audiences and times were thankfully beginning to change around 2016. When Katie turned professional under Eddie Hearn, broadcaster Sky Sports began to really invest in the growth of women’s boxing with Taylor as the matriarch. Natasha Jonas, Savannah Marshall, Terri Harper and others followed. Women’s boxing ascended to a totally new level. “How much does the fire honestly
“Did you think about it after your sole loss to Chantelle?” I asked. “I was heartbroken, like any fighter. I thought she won the fight. She was the better person. The fight was on a Saturday night. Sunday, Monday rest and I was back in the gym Tuesday, preparing for the rematch. I don’t sit there feeling sorry for myself. I knew what I needed to do for the rematch. I got it back in great fashion and I am very, very proud of it. That was make or break, and revenge was very, very sweet. I would love to have the Cameron trilogy.” With Turki Alalshikh changing the whole landscape of boxing, surely a megamatch out in Saudi Arabia is still on the to-do list.
250 amateur bouts (she won 169 of 179 officially, but many early ones were unsanctioned against boys) and 25 professional fights, Katie Taylor is absolutely convinced her finest performances are still ahead: “I’m telling you, Adam, people haven’t seen the best of me. I am excited to showcase what this year will bring.” As our precious time came to an end and Katie departed for other promotional activities in London, I was left to wonder what lies ahead for her. She is of course welcome back any summer to take on the skis and the sharks again. Write Katie Taylor off at your peril.
62 RINGMAGAZINE.COM
RINGMAGAZINE.COM 63
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs