Katie Taylor emotionally reconciles with dad Pete after NINE YEARS and welcomes him back for Amanda Serrano trilogy
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KATIE TAYLOR will enter the most important fight of her boxing career having reunited with the person who started it all.
Taylor had been estranged from her dad Pete - her first coach - after discovering that he had been having an affair.
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Peter Taylor with his boxing star daughter Katie
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Peter and Katie at the AIBA Women's World Championships in China
Credit: Sportsfile - Subscription
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They have reconciled in recent years
Credit: Sportsfile
Pete's marriage with Taylor's mum Bridgett collapsed while he also lost the relationship with his daughter.
The former amateur light-heavyweight champion has been forced to watch his girl's legendary career from the sidelines for the last decade.
But, ahead of Taylor's New York trilogy fight with Amanda Serrano in the early hours of Saturday night on Netflix, the two have finally reconciled.
Taylor, 39, said: "To be back training with him is huge for me, you can't mention my story without mentioning my dad."
Her manager and close confidant Brian Peters said: "It takes some doing just to get that relationship back, that takes work but it's beautiful to see it.
"Katie uses a great word restoration."
Taylor was only 12 when she first laced up the gloves, inspired by her older brothers Peter and Lee who boxed for the St. Fergal's Boxing Club in Bray.
But it was her dad who she looked up to most.
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The two were inseparable, travelling around the world in amateur boxing tournaments, campaigning to get women's boxing recognised in Ireland and the Olympics.
Pete watched his daughter make history in 2001 when she boxed in the first officially sanctioned female bout in Ireland.
Katie Taylor takes on Amanda Serrano in dramatic rematch at Madison Square Garden
Taylor then fought for female boxing's inclusion in the Olympics by competing in showcase bouts in front of IOC officials.
After pioneering the landmark introduction of female boxing at the 2012 Games in London - she won gold with her dad in her corner.
But just before the Rio Games four years later, the Irish icon's world was rocked with the news of her father's affair.
She was knocked out in round one in Brazil - as a red hot favourite at the time - and turned professional just months later in the wake of cutting out her dad.
Taylor also relocated to Connecticut - over 3,000 miles away from Ireland where she is a celebrated sporting hero - and always enjoyed living the quiet life.
American Ross Enamait took over as her coach in the absence of Pete and guided Taylor to undisputed titles in TWO different weight classes.
To be back training with him is huge for me, you can't mention my story without mentioning my dad.
Katie Taylor
Her sensational 25 fight run - losing only once to Chantelle Cameron which she avenged in the rematch - included two epic wins over Serrano.
But with dad Pete now back in the corner - he expects the third bout to be Taylor's most decisive after two close and disputed decision wins.
He said: "This is a happy place for us. We're just so comfortable in here together.
"Katie's my child and I'm her dad. Even though Ross has been with her for the last ten years, I still know Katie better than anybody else.
"When you have two people that is interested in one person, and the conversations are always going to be constructive, two is better than one.
"No matter what, she'll always find a way of winning. No disrespect to Amanda Serrano, I don't think she has the tools to beat Katie.
"Katie's got the abilities to adapt all the time. Obviously, Amanda's going to adapt as well. You've seen the best of Amanda Serrano in both fights in all fairness.
"I still don't think you've seen the best of Katie Taylor and I think in this fight you're going to see the best Katie Taylor and it's going to shock Amanda Serrano."
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Amanda Serrano lost her first fight to Taylor in 2022
Credit: AP
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Serrano also lost the rematch
Credit: Getty
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