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Katie Taylor dismisses MMA rumours but looks forward to inaugural European Games in Baku and Rio 2016
by Michael O'Neill
February 1, 2015
 
     
   
   

(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’?
 

 
     
     
   
 
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