What Katie must do next to put herself at forefront of the pro boxing world
THE legend that is Katie Taylor has already had one career-defining moment on US soil. In 2007, at the men’s World Championships in Chicago, she was one of six female boxers who participated in demonstration bouts. Members of the International Olympic Committee, including its then president Jacques Rogge, were in attendance at the request of the since-deposed president of AI BA, Dr Wu, who was then campaigning for the inclusion of women’s boxing in the Olympic programme.
It might have been an exhibition bout, but the 21-year-old Bray pugilist couldn’t disguise her competitive instincts, wowing her high-profile audience with an eye-catching performance.
Though boxing in the unfamiliar welterweight category, she stopped Canadian Katie Dunn, a three-time Pan-American champion, in the first round.
Though it took another two years, ultimately the IOC accepted the inclusion of women’s boxing, paving the way for Taylor’s gold medal win at the London Games in 2012.
Tomorrow night in Boston’s iconic TD Garden, Taylor can copperfasten her position as the female face of Matchroom’s new media partners, DAZN, who will live-stream her world lightweight title fight against Cindy Serrano.
The financial muscle of the new organisation, which is aiming to become the equivalent of Netflix in terms of its promotion of boxing, was illustrated early this week when they inked a five-year, 11-fight deal with newly-crowned world middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez worth an astonishing $356 million.
Taylor is ideally placed to become the first female fighter to be formally signed by DAZN, but her first priority is to beat 36-year-old Serrano, a one-time world featherweight champion who is moving up two weights to take on the Bray native.
Conor McGregor filled the 20,000 Boston venue when he stopped Dennis Siver in 2015. Now Taylor is the star attraction tomorrow night following the cancellation of the WBO world middleweight title fight between American Demetrius Andrade and England’s Billy Joe Saunders following the latter’s failed dope test.
While Andrade, who hails from nearby Rhode Island, will meet Walter Kautondokwa for the now-vacant WBC middleweight
belt, for the Irish-American audience Taylor is the big draw with the three other Irish boxers on the card, James Tennyson, Niall Kennedy and Seán McComb, playing supporting roles.
It will be the first time in the history of Irish professional boxing that two Irish fighters will be bidding for world titles on the same bill. Belfast native Tennyson challenges title holder Telvin Farmer for the IBF world super-featherweight title.
If Taylor and Tennyson win their bouts, Ireland will have four professional world champions with TJ Doheny and Ryan Burnett already holding world belts.
Taylor’s picture dominated the front page of Boston’s free ‘Metro’ newspaper on Wednesday.
There is a palpable sense of excitement in the city about her appearance, particularly in the wake of her excellent performance in her last US appearance when she secured the IBF world lightweight belt in a thrilling scrap against Victoria Noelia Bustos in Brooklyn.
Even though Taylor is still a novice in professional boxing – this is only her eleventh fight – her apprenticeship is over.
Aside from winning tomorrow night, she will be expected to produce an eye-catching performance as well.
But so far in her pro career she hasn’t disappointed. This is another chance to impress.
There is a palpable sense of excitement in the city about her appearance