(FEB 1) The ‘luck of the Irish’?
Don’t tell that to Katie Taylor! She has always wanted to win an
Irish Elite title ‘in the ring’ yet has not achieved this
ambition in her career thus far.
True after taking up the sport ‘officially’, when ‘amateur’
boxing was made legal in Ireland, in 2001 she has won every
honour the sport can offer, at home and abroad.
An Olympic Gold, 5 European
Union, 6 European championships and a record equalling 5 AIBA
World titles, all in a row, came the Bray woman’s way.
After years finding that no other woman had dared to take her
on, it looked as if the Irish Elites of 2014 would allow her to
actually participate in a ’real
fight’ albeit her opponent was to be close friend Alanna Audley-Murphy.
(Katie has won an Irish Elite title though on 3 occasions by
virtue of a walk over).
Remember it was the then 16 years old Alanna Audley who took
part in Ireland’s first ever women's bout back in October 2001
against the 15 years old Ms Taylor. (Taylor won 23:12)
Sadly due to death of a close relative Alanna had to withdraw a
couple of days before that 2014 final. So to 2015 and surprise,
surprise there were three
entries but again fate was to intervene but this time, it was
Katie who had to withdraw due to the injury sustained some weeks
earlier in the 2014 AIBA World final in Jeju.
So the new 60kg champion is Galway’s Debbie O’Reilly who
defeated young Geesala, Co. Mayo prospect Louise Donohue in the
final at the National Stadium.
With the championships over, talk in the Irish and indeed
British media, soon turned to ‘What will Katie do next’?
MMA star Conor McGregor’s coach John Kavanagh told radio station
Newstalk that he believed that MMA was becoming very popular in
other countries as well as the
United States. "It's definitely growing and there is a big scene
in the States. Aisling Daly is a celebrity over there. She's
very well-known and featured on that reality TV show, The
Ultimate Fighter Show.
"Katie Taylor has actually shown some interest in possibly
training in mixed martial arts one day.
"I've been speaking to people, so who knows we might get her
over after she wins her next championship."
One national newspaper took its cue from there saying that
‘Taylor was one of the first of Ireland's biggest sport stars to
congratulate McGregor on his second round TKO victory over Denis
Siver in Boston’.
She tweeted: "No one in the history of Irish sport has
captivated the public like @TheNotoriousMMA has. You're an
inspiration!."
McGregor responded: "Thank you @KatieTaylor!! You are one of
Ireland's pound for pound greatest athletes!! It is an honour
:-)."
That sure set the tongues wagging for a day or three so when she
appeared at a Sky Sports Ambassador long planned media gathering
there was only going to be one major topic of conversation.
When was she going to switch to MMA? Others wanted to know if
she would take on Ronda Rousey or even Holly Holm.
By the time the ‘news’ had reached the United States, it was
almost like being taken for granted. Bradley Taylor, lead writer
on ‘Give Me Sport’ was soon ‘on the case’ though incorrectly
describing Katie as a ‘former Professional
football player’ (true as an amateur before concentrating on
boxing she has represented Ireland women’s team in various
grades, on many occasions.
According to Brad : ” At 135lbs, Taylor would likely fit into
the bantamweight division - the same division as Ronda Rousey -
and with her boxing skills alone she would be a force.
Her time as a footballer gives her good strength in her legs for
kicks as well, leaving only her wrestling ability as the hole in
her game.
If Taylor was to round out her game and march through the
division, a potential clash with Rousey would be huge with two
Olympians of different combat sports meeting in the UFC.
Throw her onto a card with McGregor and you'll have a sure fire
sell out in Ireland as well so with this news in mind, the UFC
would be stupid to not start chasing Taylor”.
So what has Taylor (Katie that is!) to say:
On John Kavanagh’s, suggestion that she would be up for a
transition to the octagon, the five-time boxing world champion
was more than a little shocked:
"I don't know where he's getting that from!" she laughed. "I
think I'll stick to the boxing for the time being. If they got
me on the ground in MMA I think I'd probably have my two arms
broken!"
"I love seeing Irish athletes doing well and the likes of Conor
McGregor taking the UFC by storm on a world stage, it's just
absolutely incredible."
“There’s obviously a lot of people against MMA, as well, for
whatever reason. I think the athletes are fantastic. I’ve never
met Conor, I’d love to meet him. We have two completely
different personalities but I think he’s absolutely brilliant.
He’s taken the UFC by storm.”
Could she see MMA being an Olympic sport one day?
“It’s getting that way, because it’s becoming more and more
popular every year. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was an Olympic
sport.
“I don’t know why boxing and MMA are always pitted against each
other. They’re two completely different sports. I have so much
respect for those guys with the training they put in and the
discipline it takes to get into that shape. It’s incredible.”
So “what next”? For 2015 she has set her sights on winning the
inaugural European Games 60 kg Gold in Baku, Azerbaijan in June.
Having won every other major title, this is one she is keen to
add to her Golden collection.
She will though face some very stiff competition including that
of AIBA 2014 Silver medallist, the host nation’s Yana Alekseeva
and a hostile home crowd in Azerbaijan.
There are also possible bouts in either or both of APB/WSB,
though most likely as exhibitions as we reported recently, and
maybe not until later in the year.
What about Rio 2016? Does she intend to defend her title there?
“The qualifiers are next year during the world championships.
That’s the big, big event, that’s the most important competition
of them all. I have to qualify,” she said.
“I want a second Olympic gold medal but I have to qualify first
and that’s the most important event.”
Who knows perhaps she will by then also have that cherished
Irish Elite title award that was won ‘in the ring’?