It’s tough at the top of women’s fight game, insists Katie Taylor
As she commands a round-table Q&A session as part of her role as a Sky Sports Living For Sport ambassador with the media, the Wicklow fighter first addresses questions about the strength of women’s boxing.
She rejects the notion that any of her five world championship titles came easily and admits to being annoyed by such suggestions.
“If it was easy, everyone would be defending those titles,” Taylor says. “But every year is a tough competition and the standard has always been brilliant. I never went through an easy fight. Every fight has been hard fought.
“They’re the things that you’re up against in women’s sport. They’re the comments that I always get. It is frustrating but all I can do is just keep winning and hopefully people will stand up and take notice eventually.”
In December, Taylor was critical of RTÉ and what she perceived was their lack of support for boxing but she yesterday confirmed talks have taken place with a view to making a documentary with the broadcaster.
“Nothing’s set in stone,” she admitted. “We’re just talking to RTÉ about the prospect of doing it. It’s just to get an insight into the person that I am as well as the training that goes on behind the scenes.
“I never knew that I was going to cause such a story. I thought it was common knowledge that RTÉ didn’t show any boxing last year.”
While Taylor says she doesn’t feel pressure to increase the recognition of women’s sport, she accepts her achievements and the attention generated by Stephanie Roche’s appearance at the Ballon d’Or helps improve perceptions.
“It does take a bit more, I suppose, to be recognised as a female athlete. I think we’ve definitely come on in leaps and bounds over the last few years but I still think we have a long way to go. The likes of the rugby girls have done a lot for their sport in the last few years.
"You definitely need good strong women coming up and just breaking down those barriers. I can only do that in my own sport. I’ll just try my best to keep winning titles.
“Once I keep doing that, people have to sit up and take notice. That’s the best way to do it, just being consistent every year.”
Meanwhile, she says she is closely following the exploits of another fighter breaking down his own barriers.
“I’m a big fan of Conor McGregor. I don’t know much about mixed martial arts but I love watching him. I think he’s a phenomenal athlete. He’s a great showman. You never know what he’s going to come out with.”
nSky Sports Living for Sport, part of Sky Academy, announces 12 new athlete mentors with ambassador Katie Taylor. To find out more and to get involved visit www.skysports.com/livingforsport
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