IRISH boxing fans are counting down the days until Katie Taylor’s long-awaited homecoming at in Dublin – but dad Pete insists he won’t be there to see it.
Despite fighting 22 times since turning professional after the 2016 Rio Olympics, Taylor has yet to box in Ireland.
But that will all change on May 20 when she faces England’s Chantelle Cameron on what promises to be a blockbuster night at the 3Arena, with the opportunity to become a two-weight unified world champion.
Taylor will be at the famous venue on the night, but plans to leave as soon as his charge Gary Cully takes care of business on the undercard – admitting he will learn the result from Twitter later on.
“I’m always nervous.
“I won’t watch the fight because I can’t control anything that’s happening. Once Gary Cully’s fought, I’m out of there. It was the same last time when Gary fought on Katie’s show [in October 2022], I left, I didn’t watch the fight.
“I’m afraid I’ll start shouting something in, and then I might shout something quite opposite of what Ross [Enamait, Taylor’s coach] is saying to Katie, and then she’ll recognise my voice… I wouldn’t want to confuse the situation.
“Plus I might end up having a heart attack anyway!”
Taylor was in his daughter’s corner the last time she met Cameron, in the semi-final of the EU Championships way back in 2011 – the Bray woman a convincing winner in Katowice.
Much has changed in the 13 years since, but Taylor believes the raucous atmosphere inside the 3Arena can help unsettle Cameron, who claimed the super-lightweight titles with victory over American Jessica McCaskill in the in the relatively sterile confines of Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena last November.
“There’s no atmosphere [in Abu Dhabi] – it’s like a spar really, or like boxing when Covid was on.
“I don’t think Chantelle Cameron will have felt an atmosphere like this. Katie’s fought in the Olympic Games in London against Natasha Jonas, the final against [Sofya] Ochigava, then through her pro career… she’s been through this.
“Obviously she’s still going to be nervous, but it’ll be nothing new to her. The atmosphere could play a decisive part in the fight.
“If Katie’s fully fit and things go well, I can’t see Cameron beating her. If it comes down to grit at the end of the fight, and it’s close, no-one will out-grit Katie – especially when she’s got the Irish crowd behind her.”
