A PRIVATE message to promoter Eddie Hearn started Katie Taylor’s professional boxing career – now she is on the brink of history.
Taylor, one of Ireland’s most beloved and adored sports stars, almost single handily got women’s boxing into the Olympics.
Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn with Katie Taylor
She boxed in exhibitions in front of Olympic chiefs and successfully convinced them women had a right to box in the London 2012 Games.
Taylor would go onto win gold but she was stunned in defeat four years later in Rio, losing in the quarter-finals.
Following the Olympic heartbreak, the five-time world championship winner was ready for her next step.
And that led her to send Hearn a direct message on Twitter, asking for a meeting as she considered turning pro.
Hearn admitted at first he accepted just out of respect to Taylor – but was soon blown away when the two sat face to face.
He told SunSport in Dublin: “When she won gold in 2012, I was like, ‘Wow, that was unbelievable. The atmosphere and everything, she’s a huge star.
“But she never really wanted to turn pro, there was talk about it. When Rio came around, there was more talk about it.
“It didn’t go the way she wanted it to. And then she said, ‘I wanna turn pro.’ After that is when she sent me the message.
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“There was no market for women’s boxing, there was no interest from broadcasters or fans. I just had the meeting out of respect for her.
“But it was during that meeting I just thought, ‘Wow, you’re amazing. I’d quite like to be part of this, we could be a hero with you in just completely changing the game.'”
Taylor signed with Hearn’s Matchroom banner in 2016 and within a year she became lightweight world champion.
Before long, she reigned as undisputed queen of the division and moved up in weight to become a two-division ruler.
Last year, Taylor, 36, and Amanda Serrano, 33, sold at New York’s famed Madison Square Garden for their fight of the year contender.
Taylor edged out a split-decision but their rematch was shelved due to an injury to Serrano.
So instead, Taylor will move back up to super-lightweight to challenge the unbeaten champ Chantelle Cameron, 32.
And it will be her most historic fight of all, as it marks the return of Irish boxing for the first time since 2014.
Hearn has promoted stadium super-fights in the UK, America and Mexico.
But bringing Taylor home to Dublin for the first time in her professional career could top the lot.
Hearn said: “I can sort of tell you a dozen nights that I’ll remember forever that stand out for me, and this is well in there – and that’s before the fight.
“So ask me the same question after Saturday night, it might me number one. It’s going to be that kind of night.”
Katie Taylor, Eddie Hearn and Chantelle Cameron
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I practice boxing without a partner?
You can practice boxing by watching professional matches on TV, even if your partner is not available. You might also be able to find an amateur club nearby. Amateur boxing groups often have regular training sessions. These sessions typically include sparring partners that hit pads together.
You can also train boxing with punching bags. Before you use the bag, be sure to protect yourself with gloves or boxing gloves.
Do I have to fight in order to train boxing?
You can’t train boxing without fighting. You must put in the work to get better at boxing. You will be able to improve your boxing technique and endurance.
The first step towards improving your boxing technique is to watch some good boxers fight. Pay attention to how they move and throw punches. Also, observe how they defend themselves. Try to imitate their movements.
Next, you will need to spar against another fighter. This is where your ability to improve your boxing technique will be revealed. You will also be able to see how fast you punch, how strong your punches are, and how well it blocks incoming punches when sparring.
Finally, practice your skills by performing drills. Practice makes perfect, so be patient and persistent.
What is the maximum number of punches a person can take?
A punch is “a blow delivered from the fist”. One punch is all that a human can take. When someone hits you in the face, he/she is punching you. You cannot hit someone’s back. This would be two punches.
Where can I buy boxing gear?
There are many different places online where you can buy boxing equipment. There are many online stores that sell boxing equipment, including Amazon, eBay Walmart, Target and Sports Authority. Ross and TJ Maxx are great places to find cheap boxing gear.
Warrior, Golden Glove, or Premier Boxing Champions are all good options if quality is your goal.
Statistics
- This article received 39 testimonials and 89% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. (wikihow.com)
- It is just like normal sparring with a partner, but you want to throw punches at 75% of your normal speed. (wikihow.com)
External Links
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How To
Here are the Basic Skills of Boxing
How to box effectively
Boxing is the most loved sport in the world. It is a fight between two opponents. The rules of boxing vary from country to country. There are three types: Amateur, Professional, or Olympic boxing.
Amateur boxing may be done at school, college, and university. This form of boxing involves sparring with no protection and using padded gloves. Amateur boxing contests are usually three rounds in length, lasting five minutes each. There are many styles of amateur boxing such as Kickboxing or Muay Thai, Taekwondo and Karate, Judo and Wrestling, among others.
Professional boxing is usually practiced in gyms, clubs or stadiums. They have protective equipment such as mouthpieces. Six rounds of professional boxing last four minutes each. There are many styles of professional boxing: Boxing, MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), Kickboxing and Muay Thai.
Olympic boxing can be seen at the Olympics. Special protective gear must be worn by boxers to ensure compliance with international standards. Each round lasts three minutes and is made up of eight rounds. There are only two styles of Olympic boxing; Light Flyweight and Heavyweight.
The basic skills of boxing are:
- Techniques for punching
- Guarding techniques
- Footwork
- Stance
- Move your body
- Defense
- Combination
- Rotation
- Spare parts
Punching Techniques
There are seven kinds of punches: Left Hook, Right Hook, Uppercut, Cross, Straight, Overhand and Underhand. Each punch has its own technique. Some punches require more strength than others. For example, an uppercut is a powerful punch. However, a straight punch is much more powerful and faster than other punches.
There are also many combinations. These are combinations which combine several punches in order to achieve a specific goal. An entire combination could have several parts. A left hook followed with a right-cross will cause injury to the opponent’s jaw.
Guard Techniques
To defend himself from being attacked, a boxer uses his entire body. He does this by using his legs, arms, elbows, hands, knees and feet.
Legs
A boxer must use his legs to defend against kicks. When he’s hit, he raises his right leg and runs away from the attacker. If the attack comes from the front, then he bends his knees to avoid being kicked on the side. But if the attack comes in the back, he will stand straight and block the kick using his foot.
Elbows
Because elbow strikes inflict a lot of pain, they are very effective. An elbow strike can be delivered either directly or indirectly. Directly means you hit your opponent directly with your forearm. While indirectly, it means you hit him with another section of your arm.
Hands
Boxers use their hands as a shield against incoming punches. They raise their fists high above their heads and point them in the direction of an attack. Then, they touch the attacker’s hand.
Knees
To absorb the impact of a punch to the stomach, abdomen, or chest, boxers should bend their knees. A lot of boxers use knee strikes to defend themselves.
Feet
Boxers should respond to being attacked by their opponent by standing back and delivering counter-attacks. This way, he can gain distance between himself and his opponent. In addition, when delivering a counter-attack, a boxer should keep his balance.
Stances
Boxing effectively requires a boxer to have a good stance. The way he defends him will be dictated by his stance. It dictates how he places his body and faces his opponent. Boxers can take many different stances. Here are some of the more popular ones:
- A low stance
- High stance
- Southpaw stance
- Western stance
The Body Movement
A boxer must change his position, speed and rhythm in order to win the fight. This means changing your speed, position and rhythm.
Rotation
To increase his punching power, a boxer rotates when he throws a punch. Different types of punches require different speeds for the rotation.
Combinations
The timing of each individual punch affects the effectiveness or failure of a combination. A combination that is effective starts with a strong punch, and ends with one that is weak.
Spare parts
Sparring is a form of boxing that aims to improve your skills. Boxers learn to train their mind and bodies during sparring sessions. Sparring is a way to learn how to fight without getting hurt.
To sum it all, boxing requires patience and dedication. You need to train hard and long in order to become a better boxer.
