Katie Taylor dials down promotion to crank up revenge mission

At the public workout in Liffey Valley on Wednesday, Taylor timed her appearance to perfection. No waiting around. As minimal media as possible.

Wed, 22 Nov, 2023 - 19:07

Maurice Brosnan

One more tune. It is fight week and everything Katie Taylor does is laden with that reality. In a bid to avenge her homecoming loss and prolong a truly great Irish sporting career, the 37-year-old is determined to keep her head down and do her talking on Saturday.

Doing so in the capital and in an era where she is the most cherished sporting personality in Ireland is no mean feat. At the public workout in Liffey Valley on Wednesday, Taylor timed her appearance to perfection. No waiting around. As minimal media as possible. Some unavoidable posing and pictures with adoring fans but within minutes security forms a scrum around her and sweeps through the mob.

Why? It all stems from last May. That defeat stung. In certain places post-fight, the buildup to that historic night was identified as an issue. Back then she paid her dues and sold the bout. Now Taylor bids to take Chantelle Cameron’s IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC and WBO super-lightweight titles away this Saturday night and that is now the sole priority. The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.

“It is very difficult to have the conversation with Katie, if you lose…” says Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn, who gladly cycles through a host of different media in her place. Like any gold salesman, he is keenly conscious of his audience every single time. Give the people what they want. With the Irish cohort, that means chatting about a fanatical Irish crowd and Katie’s courage and the possibility of Croke Park.

“I would never have that conversation with her. But you lose at home, back-to-back, I know you can say it is at 140 but don’t forget, this is the third consecutive seven-figure gate Katie Taylor has had. Madison Square Garden and two here. She is a huge draw but if you keep getting beat, you won’t be.

“I see a different... I haven’t seen Katie this week because I only arrived this morning, but all the word is, the media obligations are being cut a little shorter. I get it. Honestly, last time she did so much. Maybe you guys didn’t feel like it, but she did.

“I think that this time around she will say no. I don’t care. When she left that night and I was in the lift with her going down, I remember it clearly. I said we have to exercise the rematch next week if you want to do it and she said, ‘exercise it.’ You could have offered her ten times the money to fight someone else and she wouldn’t take it.

“She was so driven to win this fight. One thing for sure, she will be levels above where she was last time, but so will Chantelle Cameron.”

As Hearn noted, the notion that limited press obligations were a hindrance isn’t unanimous. Taylor did not do a press conference after that 95-95, 96-94, 96-94 majority scorecard decision. However, when you combine all the promotional work, television marketing and her willingness to engage with supporters, it is understandable how it can all take a toll.

It should be said too, despite some speculation, that this is unlikely to be the end of anything. Taylor has consistently indicated as much. If she wins, Hearn has his sights on bigger and better days.

“I mean the rematch could be massive, the Trilogy. You’ve got the rematch with Amanda Serrano. If she wins on Saturday night, I want to deliver Croke Park because if she comes through this fight her popularity will go to another level. Don’t forget, not a lot of people are giving her a chance in this fight. If she proves everyone wrong, it will be her greatest victory ever.”

Not quite the last dance then. Certainly not if all the murmurs of her improved conditioning are anything to go by. Taylor did a standard walkthrough with her trainer Ross Enamait on Wednesday. She fought through a torn injury in two 2021 fights and only fought twice in 2022. This will be her 24th contest in the paid ranks. How was her training camp?

“I don’t really get involved,” explains Hearn.

“I know that physically she wasn’t at her best last time, but I hate even saying it because then it is, ‘oh you are not giving Chantelle Cameron the credit.’ She is in a much better place physically for this fight but a lot of people in the boxing world are saying ‘how does she beat Chantelle’?

“If you look at that first fight, every Katie Taylor fight, she wins the first five rounds 5-0 or 4-1. Even against Serrano, she is always ahead.

“After the first four rounds last time she was run like a rag doll. So, the start of this fight is so important and she will know that as well. She has got to get off to a fast start. But I will tell you now when the first bell goes, she will come out, Chantelle Cameron, she will walk Katie Taylor down and throw the kitchen sink at her in the first half of the fight. It is going to be an absolute war.”