Katie Taylor was anticipated to take some well-deserved time off after defending her title in the greatest women’s boxing battle ever held at Madison Square Garden. Instead, she showed back three days later to resume her tough training regimen.
This “very much unheard of” energy and concentration, according to her trainer, have made her the uncontested lightweight world champion, a title she will defend at Wembley on Saturday against Karen Carabajal of Argentina — the UK’s largest female battle ever.
Taylor, who hails from Ireland, is based in the United States, and is promoted by the United Kingdom’s Matchroom Boxing, is one of the biggest stars in the meteoric ascent that women’s boxing is finally seeing twenty years after becoming legal.
Taylor asserts that 2022 was the year the sport got mainstream. “For the first time, the public will witness the best of women’s boxing. It is not uncommon for women to headline a major production.
“This year’s two best battles were mine and Amanda Serrano’s, and Claressa Shields’ and Savannah Marshall’s — two girl bouts.” This is a fantastic opportunity to get involved.'”
As a child of the 1990s who grew up watching male legends such as Sugar Ray Leonard, she never thought this was possible. She began her career posing as a guy under the alias Kay to circumvent the ban on female fights in Ireland until 2001. “It is extraordinary that young girl warriors have female role models to look up to. Some of these are well-known brands. We never had that as children.”
The bout on Saturday will be an important addition to the women’s boxing schedule, and Taylor will be returning to the arena where she made her professional debut six years ago. “On Saturday night, all of my titles are on the line, including the unquestioned championship. At this point in my career, every battle is a major one for me,” she explains.
It is also her first fight since her historic debut at Madison Square Garden in New York City, which she described as “an iconic night in the sport.”
“Everyone was quite eager before the battle, but I believe it exceeded everyone’s anticipations. Ten years ago, I never would have imagined that I would be headlining Madison Square Garden. Incredibly, Amanda Serrano and I are now included in the same category as Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier.
Getting there is not a straightforward task. Taylor submits to a rigorous training regimen consisting of six training sessions per week, including running, strength, and conditioning, and sparring in the ring. On her day off, she leads a “simple existence” that consists primarily of Netflix and chocolate.
Taylor regards discipline as one of the most important facets of boxing. “I believe that the days when you’re not feeling well when you’re exhausted, are the days that make the difference between winning and losing.”
Wednesday in London, she displayed the lightning-fast jabs that have earned her the reputation of possessing the fastest hand speed in women’s boxing.
Ross Enamait, her trainer, thinks that it would be exceedingly difficult to find a contender for second place.
Taylor is the “whole package,” according to Enamait, because of her natural athleticism and competitive instinct, but also because of her “consistency and work ethic.” “Many people reach the summit, look around, realize there is no one else there, and then tumble off. She has reached the top and desires to remain there.”
This determination is one of the best aspects of women’s boxing, according to Enamait: “The ladies seem more willing to fight the best than in men’s boxing, where many of the top males are avoiding each other.”
The audience at female matches, which consists primarily of families and women, praises the unique environment. “There’s a lot of emotion, the tempo is quicker, and the best are fighting the best, so it’s always an entertaining battle for the spectators,” says Enamait.
Enamait and Taylor concur that women’s boxing will improve in 2023, with more megafights, terrestrial TV coverage, and more compensation – all of which are steps toward “women’s boxing” being referred to simply as “boxing,” a key goal for Taylor, a well-known opponent of all-female events.
Taylor hopes that her first homecoming bout will take place in Ireland, but she also desires a larger profile for lower-level boxers. “We’ve been fortunate in recent years to receive a platform, but I don’t believe it should be limited to a few female fighters. I would love for every girl to have this opportunity.”
