Katie Taylor's words to dad 'killed him' after dating woman younger than her
The boxing trainer, who grew up in Leeds, had coached Katie all her life and led her to gold at the London Olympics in 2012. But when the legendary boxer discovered his father had split with his mother, Bridget, she made a painful decision. Speaking about losing contact with his eldest daughter, he said: 'Katie is really into her faith, I just remember her coming down to the boxing club – 'Da, I don't want you in the corner. I just don't want you in the corner.''
Katie's father added: 'Social media… I'm married now, married to Karen, and Karen is the same age as Katie, and everybody was saying, 'Pete Taylor's ran off with Katie's best friend.''
Pete clarified that his now wife Karen Brown, 35, knew of Katie, 39, because of her boxing achievements but did not know her personally.
He also claimed on the Anything Goes With James English podcast that he considered this rumour an 'insult' to him, because it sounded like he could have 'groomed' her if he had known her since she was a child, which was not the case. Pete Taylor has since reconciled with his eldest daughter Katie (Image: ©INPHO/Gary Carr)
Podcast host James then said it was 'ruthless' of Katie to cease talking to him, but Pete offered context.
He said: 'Do you know what, I don't think it was ruthless, she has such morals, and such faith, and she thinks if you are married you should be together for life. She has some morals you know, it killed me now, but I had to respect it you know.'
Katie later appeared in a documentary and said she felt like she was boxing with one arm after the split because all she had ever known was her father being in her corner.
She later failed to retain her gold medal at the Olympics in Rio before turning professional, where she went on to become a multi-division world champion who starred in a thrilling trilogy with Amanda Serrano.
And speaking about going years without talking to his daughter, Pete said: 'That was tough because we were like that you know.
'It was tough for both of us but that's life isn't it? But obviously because we were always together, it was a big thing in the newspapers. You would think I was the only person who ever split up a marriage in Ireland.' They are back on good terms after a turbulent few years (Image: ©INPHO/Gary Carr)
And after the success of the Olympics in 2012, where Pete and Katie returned to a sensational homecoming, he claimed he was painted as the 'pure villain in Ireland' after Katie's shock quarter-final defeat in the Olympics in Rio four years later.
Reemphasising his earlier point, he repeated: 'At the time, it was tough now in all fairness.' Despite a difficult few years, Katie and Pete reconciled, and he was even welcomed back ahead of her third fight with Serrano last month.
And speaking before the world championship clash, she said: 'To be back training with him is huge for me, you can't mention my story without mentioning my dad.'
Her manager, Brian Peters, added: '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.'
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