Katie faces tough slog if she wants to go pro

If Katie Taylor decides to go into the world of women’s professional boxing, she can expect a tough slog in a business dominated by men and largely motivated by money.

For her part, Ireland’s golden girl has made no hard and fast decisions other than that she will continue boxing. The real question is whether she will stay as an amateur or go professional.

Ireland has no female professional boxer licensed to fight. For a self-confessed home bird and a devoutly religious person, the world of the professional ranks might be just too murky a step.

Ireland’s only female boxing promoter is Maria Ní Shiúilleabháin. According to her, the state of female professional boxing is “awful” for many reasons — from sexism to plain old greed.

“It’s an awful profession right now. We are trying to get it going here but it’s very difficult. Most promoters hate it because they don’t see any financial gain in it.

“Major promoters like Frank Warren and Frank Maloney expressed their dislike of it in the past. There are some British professionals but the British Board of Boxing Control has virtually killed it there,” she said.

Ms Ní Shiúilleabháin admitted that while there were more options in the United States, the money remained very small for women who fight on small bills with very little exposure.

“The WBF have done a huge amount for the support of women’s boxing, but it’s very hard to match female fighters. They get so little exposure and it’s very difficult to get them on bills.

“Boxing is an overwhelmingly male sport and, sadly, still quite a sexist one. That’s not to say that there aren’t some great promoters out there that might push it more — people like Eddie Hearn in Britain and Kathy Duva in the US are great,” she said.

However, Ms Ní Shiúilleabháin admitted that the performances of Katie Taylor and other female boxers in the Olympics had given female boxing a much-needed boost.

“The Olympics will lead to a huge overhaul in female boxing. For too long people thought they’d be watching a catfight but that’s not the case. These women are every bit as skilful as the men. People like Katie Taylor have changed, and hopefully will change, the old sexist view of women’s boxing,” she said.

In fact, Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn has already hinted at the possibility of signing some female stars of the Olympics and admitted he would be doing further research into the potential for female professional boxing in the wake of the Olympics.

“I’m getting lots of calls and tweets about my thoughts on Katie Taylor and Nicola Adams going pro. I’d need to do further research on the depth of the women’s game but you can’t ignore the euphoria and interest that these two great fighters have created. Time will tell,” he tweeted.

Katie Taylor has often spoken of her dream to fight for a world title in Las Vegas. The reality is that for this to happen she will have to go professional. The trick is to find a promoter who will nurture rather than exploit her talent.

Ireland’s only ever female professional boxing world champion Deirdre Gogarty has no doubt that Katie’s rising star will lift all female professionals should she make the decision to go into the paid ranks. “The women fighters out there now will love her, especially as she can bring the big money back into the sport.”

Ms Gogarty won the women’s world lightweight title when she outpointed Mexican Bonnie Canino in New Orleans 15 years ago.

She believes that should Ms Taylor choose to go professional, she has more than enough talent to make her mark.

“Katie’s that talented that she won’t have to change her style too much for the pros, although just like in men’s boxing the women’s professional game is as much about fighting as technical ability.

“The big money days of the ’90s are long passed, but Katie can be the spark to rejuvenate that. She will command huge money and the other women will be delighted if she raises the sports profile, because it means they will earn more as well. They will see the dollar signs and welcome her on board for that reason alone,” she said.

Fun ‘facts’

We have all heard of the invincibility of Chuck Norris, but it looks as though a certain Irish female boxer is set to trump his reputation.

Innovative Katie Taylor fans on Twitter have coined the hashtag #katietaylorfacts, where humorous ‘facts’ about the boxer’s prowess are shared á la Chuck Norris.

Here are some of the best #katietaylorfacts:

* John McGuirk @john_mcguirk —

Katie Taylor once got mad with a fig. It ran away and hid. And that, folks, is how they got the figs into the fig rolls

* Padraig Gallahue @pgallahue —

Chuck Norris wears Katie Taylor Pyjamas

* Niamh Bonner @Niamheyb — Death once had a near Katie Taylor experience

* Shane McGrath @Shaneytweet —

when Katie Taylor was 5 she threw a paper airplane.......it landed yesterday

* Door Depot @DoorDepotIrl —

When Katie Taylor was born, the only person who cried was the doctor. No one slaps Katie Taylor.

* Tom Flynn @irishtom_ —

Katie Taylor once had a street named after her. It was removed because no one crosses Katie Taylor and lives.

* Paul Fox @Woohoofoxy —

Katie Taylor once challenged Chuck Norris to a fight. Chuck declined as he was washing his hair that night, and the next.

nevette @eveobrien —

Katie Taylor can slam a revolving door.

* Max Power @markpower1978 —

Katie Taylor CAN simply walk into Mordor

* B Feery @BFeery —

Usain Bolt won the 100m because he was running from Katie Taylor

* SuttonCrossDentist @DrKeithRedmond —

Katie Taylor doesn’t wear a gumshield to protect her teeth. It’s to protect opponents hands if they get a lucky punch in.

* Paddy McKenna @PaddyMcKennaHi —

Katie Taylor once caught a cold. That poor cold has never been seen again.

* Stephen Long @Stephen_Long —

Katie Taylor was once pulled over by the gardai while driving. The garda was let off with a warning.

* Damien Hanley @damien_hanley —

There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of creatures Katie Taylor allows to live

— Rachael Power

Titans clash

In a sign of just how large an impact female boxing has had in the Olympic Games, it is expected that the World Boxing Federation Women’s World Championship’s will be held in the ExCel Arena in London in 2013.

In a major boost to women’s professional boxing, the event will be held in the arena which hosted Katie Taylor and the female amateur boxing sensations of the Olympic Games.

The WBF event will see professional stars such as Christine Hammer, Ramona Kuehne, and Maria Lindberg among others fight for world titles across a range of different weight divisions.

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