‘Get Out Now’ – Michael Carruth urges Katie Taylor and Paddy Barnes to retire

Michael Caruth would like to see fell ow Irish boxing amateur legends Paddy Barnes and Katie Taylor hang up the gloves.

The Barcelona 92 gold medal winner wants his fellow Olympic medal winners depart the pro scene with immediate effect.

The calls for Barnes to retire may not come as surprise, considering the Belfast fighter has lost three of his last four and has himself suggested he may exit stage left.

However, Taylor retirement talk will raise eyebrows. The London 2012 Olympic gold medal winner has just become Ireland’s first undisputed world champion and will this weekend look to join Steve Collins and Carl Frampton as a two weight Irish world champion.

The Bray native has changed the face of women’s boxing and is keen to continue breaking new ground in the sport.

Carruth argues the Matchroom fighter has already proved herself Ireland’s greatest pro ever and feels the only way is down from here.

“She’s the greatest professional boxer Ireland’s ever had – male or female,” said 1992 Olympic gold medallist Carruth at the launch of Circle K’s “Here for Ireland” initiative.

“I would love her to get out because I know her so well and I think when you’re undisputed you’re undisputed. There’s nothing bigger or better. I would want her out of the game. You can fight one fight too many. This is just a personal thing with me and Katie.

“She’s at the absolute top, where can you go from there? You can’t go anywhere, only down. I’m hoping that doesn’t happen to her and I’m hoping this is her last fight,” he adds before suggesting Taylor will be prepared and ready to defeat Christina Linardatou for the WBO light welterweight title on top of a Manchester Arena bill on Saturday.

“Then again, she loves what she does and she’s impeccable in her approach to it. No stone is left unturned. She’ll be sparring guys heavier than her to get used to the weight difference. She’ll be sparring guys lighter than her to get speed. She’ll have all her homework done on her opponent, she’ll have her nutrition right and her head right. She’ll be right for the fight.”

With regard to two time Olympic bronze medal winner Barnes, who lost to European champion Jay Harris at the Ulster Hall earlier this month, Carruth believes it’s time to call it a day.

“Paddy is a long time in boxing and you can only go so far as you get older,” said Carruth.

“Your reactions aren’t as good, everything’s not as good. I believe there’s a job for Paddy in a development role in Belfast.

“That’s what I think he should do, get out of the pro game. He’s given enough to boxing. He’s a three-time Olympian, he’s our only two-time medallist. He’s been a great ambassador for our country. He’s had an up and down pro career.

“Get out of it now and go and enjoy life.”