Katie Taylor backs Irish Sparring Partner to be “Future of Boxing”
Katie Taylor believes Irish boxing will very soon have another golden girl to follow.
If the undisputed lightweight world champion and the likes of reigning Olympic champion Kellie Harrington are the present, Taylor stresses that Amy Broadhurst is the future.
The Irish half of the ‘biggest women’s fight of all time’ set for Madison Square Garden and this Saturday night brought the Irish amateur talent over to Boston to help her prepare for the southpaw challenge that is Amanda Serrano – and was suitably impressed
“Amy is a phenomenal fighter,” said Taylor.
“She’s got all the skill in the world, but not just the skill she has the heart and the grit as well.
“I brought her in specifically for this fight, she has been perfect preparation for this fight so I think Amy is going to be the future of women’s boxing as well.
“She’s only going to get better and better over these next few years and it was just great to share a ring with her over these last few weeks, to get those rounds in was perfect preparation.”
It’s a nice boost for the Louth lefty who was this week selected to represent Ireland at the upcoming Women’s World Championships and was 10 years ago visited at school by the Irish icon after winning European Junior gold.
25-year-old Broadhurst, a seven-time European/EU medallist across the age-grades, is among Taylor’s top fans and will rejoice in her hero’s words.
Broadhurst isn’t the first fighter to be inspired by Taylor, a whole generation of emerging talent, particularly young females have taken up the sport thanks to the trailblazer, something she argues is her greatest achievement.
“I feel very privileged to be in this position and to be an inspiration to the next generation and to have those young girls look up to me. It’s a huge responsibility as well and I want to set a great example for these young girls coming up. I want to give them hope and I want them to know thy dreams they have in their hearts can be possible.”
“Growing up I had to pretend I was a boy to get fights. I had the headgear on, and my hair tucked into the headgear. They just had my name down as K. Taylor and obviously, when the headgear came off there was an uproar because all the judges and officials saw I was a girl.
“I don’t grave the attention or crave the media attention. I don’t want to be famous; I just want to be the best boxer in the world.
“I’m also very grateful for the women that went before me – the likes of Christy Martin and Deirdre Gogarty, Lucia Rijker, Laila Ali who were pioneers in their sport. I don’t think that I’d be in the position I’m in today if it wasn’t for all those girls who went before me. I’m obviously very grateful for those who went before me.”
