The power of the crowd for Katie Taylor’s retribution and boxing’s future

Taylor’s bid to regulate the noise this week has been much discussed.

HINDRANCE OR HELP: Katie Taylor will take on Chantelle Cameron for a second time in front of a home crowd, was the pressure of the home crowd to much in their first fight and can it be a help tonight. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Sometimes raucous support betrays the pledged advantage. Andy Lee forged a career out of raiding the lion’s den, weaponizing the jeers and taking a scalp. His Olympic dream was demolished because of an inability to deal with the opposite.

The future World Champion wasn’t quiet at home in Athens where he took on Hassan N’Dam but the conditions were cosy. He won his opening bout handy in a near-empty stadium. Two weeks later, every other Irish fighter and a host of athletes had been defeated. Lee became the only channel for celebration. The arena was awash with a green wave of tricolours and leprechaun suits. The combination of pressure, wonder and anxiety formed a poisonous brew. It seeped into his legs and corrupted the challenge. By the time he realised and went looking for the calmative remedy in the third round, it was too late.