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RTÉ News
09-07-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Katie Taylor: "I have never felt the need to trash talk"
On July 11, Katie Taylor headlines the bill at New York's Madison Square Garden for her highly anticipated third fight with Amanda Serrano. In a print exclusive, Michael Doherty catches up with the undisputed Super Lightweight champion of the world to get the lowdown as the big night approaches. In January 1997, Drogheda featherweight Deirdre Gogarty defeated Bonnie Canino in New Orleans to become the first Irish woman to secure a world boxing title. Despite the achievement, the fight caused few ripples back home where women's boxing was illegal at the time. Indeed, most Irish people were unaware that we even had a new world boxing champion. Most people, that is, apart from a 10-year-old Bray boxer named Katie Taylor, who immediately wrote an impassioned letter to Deirdre Gogarty, celebrating her great victory and bemoaning the lack of opportunities for girls to follow in her footsteps. Two decades on, Katie is now a multi-belt champion, credited with getting women's boxing into the Olympics and filling the world's biggest arenas, but she recalls that moment with great fondness. "I do remember that letter I sent to Deirdre," says Katie, smiling. "I also remember the support and encouragement that Deirdre offered me through my entire teenage years. For someone like Deirdre to send me back letters, and to meet up with me every time she was home in Ireland was just brilliant. I even did a couple of training sessions with her, and that support from someone who I really looked up to meant more to me than anything. She was a fantastic fighter, and it's because of women like Deirdre that we're in this position today." When Deirdre claimed that world title, her winning purse was $12,500, not one cent of which ended up in the Irish woman's pocket. By contrast, both The Bray Bomber and the seven-weight world champion Puerto Rican, Amanda Serrano, are set to receive record-breaking, seven-figure purses for the trilogy fight, again raising the benchmark as the highest-paid female fighters of all time. So it goes when your previous fight averages 74 million viewers and becomes the most-watched women's sporting event in US history. Despite all the brouhaha surrounding this third Taylor-Serrano fight (much of it generated by her opponent's promoter, Jake Paul), Katie is calmness personified. "I feel great," says Katie. "Everything is going to plan, thank God. I feel better than I did before the last fight. From week to week, I am getting sharper and feeling stronger in training camp. I'm excited for fight night. What an amazing opportunity to fight at the Garden again, and on Netflix. When I first laced up a pair of gloves as a nine- or ten-year-old, I don't think anybody would have imagined I would be in this position today. I'm so grateful for this amazing journey! To headline such an impressive all-female card is just remarkable." While that impressive undercard, boasting such talented fighters as Chantelle Cameron and Alycia Baumgardner, is indeed remarkable, all eyes are on the main event. The two previous contests between Taylor and Serrano – 10 rounds at the Garden in 2022, and 10 rounds in Arlington, Texas, last November – were both fights for the ages, and Katie managed to get the nod each time. Not that the champ is resting on her laurels. "You always must make little adjustments for every fight," Katie explains. "It's the person who adjusts the better in these three clashes that wins the fights. It's all about adapting to the challenge, and I think we're on the right track. I out-boxed her the first time and out-fought her the second time, so I feel like I am in a good position for the third fight. Right now, I'm staying laser-focused and doing what I must do every single day in training. I've been giving it my all, and I'm going to be giving my all again on flight night." Looking back over Katie's remarkable professional career, the Bray champion has certainly given it her all. And she has carved out a remarkable career on her own terms. No trash talk, no gimmicks and no stunts, such as that perpetrated by her opponent at the weigh-in when the Puerto Rican fighter donned a head-guard to suggest that any head-clashes between the two adversaries were deliberately orchestrated by the Irish fighter. "I have never felt the need to trash talk," says Katie, "and I'm not going to start now! I just quietly do my job and then quietly step into the ring to showcase what I can do. And one thing is for sure: I'm going to leave it all in the ring. I've always had such a will to win, and I always give my heart and my soul, so I don't need to change who I am. I just need to keep doing my job and give my all in the ring, because I absolutely love this sport." Win, lose or draw on July 11, Katie Taylor owes nothing to the sport, to the Irish fans, or to anyone else, for that matter. Since the young Bray girl first tucked her long hair into her headgear and stepped into the ring to fight boys, she has revolutionised her sport and become the most iconic Irish sportsperson of all time. Five years after Deirdre Gogarty's world championship victory, it was a 15-year-old Katie who contested (and won) the first-ever sanctioned female fight in Ireland, at Dublin's National Stadium. Her outstanding amateur career led to multiple European and World championships, culminating in an Olympic gold at London 2012. Katie's professional career has also been marked by quality performances in which the Bray boxer has utilised her tremendous balance, quick feet and pinpoint accuracy to great effect, hoovering up belt after belt with a record comprising 24 wins and just one defeat (to Chantelle Cameron via majority decision in 2023). Though not a knockout merchant in the brutal manner of a Lucia Rijker or a Christy Martin, Katie is not afraid to slug it out in the centre of the ring with anyone, and she rarely takes a backward step. Despite turning 39 in the days leading up to Serrano 3, Katie maintains the same punishing training regime that she has adopted for decades, pounding the hills of her adopted home in Connecticut at ungodly hours with a will to win that is unrelenting. "The reason I've been able to keep going for so long," Katie explains, "is because of how much I love my sport. I still haven't lost that drive. I'm still as passionate about my sport today as I was when I first laced up a pair of boxing gloves. I love preparing for battle and getting into that mindset you must reach when you're putting your body through torture in training camp. "There are days when I wake up and don't want to move, but you must show up! I feel like this is a gift that God has given me, and I want to honour God with that gift. I wake up so grateful every morning that I have this opportunity, so I don't take it for granted. To have the opportunity to headline a huge show at Madison Square Garden against a top fighter is an amazing position to be in, so I am ready to give it my all." As Katie gives it her all on July 11, she will be backed by a legendary chorus of Irish support. Amanda Serrano may be Brooklyn-based but, as was the case during the first fight between these two at this same New York venue, Madison Square Garden will be festooned in green, and it will resonate with Irish voices. "I'm obviously laser-focused when I'm in the ring," says Katie, "but thinking back on that first fight gives me goosebumps even now. I could barely hear the bell! The Irish support generated a party atmosphere, and once again they are taking over New York. It's amazing to see all the tricolours. "Every single time I get into the ring, it makes me so proud that I'm representing my country and the people of Ireland. I love the fact that I'm Irish, and that I get a chance to box for my country. I was so proud to represent Ireland at the Olympics. Even though I'm not an amateur any more, every time I step into that ring, I'm representing that tricolour." As Katie prepares to head into her final pre-fight camp, there's just one question that remains. What will be the last thing on her mind at The Garden just before the bell rings, the seconds are invited to leave the ring, and it's just she and Amanda Serrano in the spotlight? "The same things I'll be thinking in the week leading up to the fight," says Katie. "She's not going to outwork me. She can't hurt me. I'm going to outbox her; I'm going to out-fight her. I'll be saying those things to myself, and it will put my mind in a good position where she can't penetrate me. I'm stepping into that ring and when the bell rings, I'm going to go for it." And we're right behind you, Katie.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Richardson Hitchins vs. George Kambosos live results, round-by-round updates, ring walks for IBF title fight
Richardson Hitchins and George Kambosos Jr. face off for the IBF super lightweight title on Saturday in New York. (for Empire State Realty Trust) Uncrowned has Richardson Hitchins vs. George Kambosos Jr. live results, round-by-round updates, highlights, ring walks and start time for the Hitchins vs. Kambosos fight card on Saturday night at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Hitchins makes the first defense of his IBF super lightweight title against the former unified lightweight champion Kambosos. Hitchins (19-0, 7 KOs) claimed the IBF title with a split decision win over Australia's Liam Paro this past December in Puerto Rico. Saturday marks the fourth consecutive headliner for Hitchins, but the first one in his home state of New York and his first as a world champion when he faces Kambosos. Advertisement Kambosos (22-3, 10 KOs) returns to The Theater at Madison Square Garden, the site of his massive upset win over Teofimo Lopez in 2021 to capture the WBA, IBF and WBO unified lightweight titles. The Australian lost his titles in back-to-back fights with Devin Haney in 2022 before rebounding with a controversial majority decision victory over Maxi Hughes. The win over Hughes earned Kambosos a shot at the IBF lightweight crown, but he was ultimately stopped by Vasiliy Lomachenko in May 2024. Kambosos made a successful debut at super lightweight with a unanimous decision over the late-replacement Jake Wyllie this past March and now looks to become a two-division champion. Advertisement In the night's co-feature, Andy Cruz (5-0, 2 KOs) — who won gold in the lightweight division at the 2020 Olympic Games and is regarded as one of the best amateurs in recent times — faces Hironori Mishiro (17-1-1, 6 KOs) in a final eliminator for the newly-crowned IBF lightweight champion, Raymond Muratalla. Elsewhere on the card, a trio of top prospects return to action, including the 2024 Olympic duo of Teremoana Teremoana (7-0, 7 KOs) and Nishant Dev (1-0, 1 KO), as well as Zaquin Moses (3-0, 2 KOs) — the cousin of Shakur Stevenson. Boxing financier Turki Alalshikh named India's Dev as a fighter he'd like to feature on the Netflix-streamed Saul "Canelo" Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford undercard in September. Hitchins vs. Kambosos prelims begin at 7:15 p.m. ET and can be watched via Uncrowned below. The main card starts at 8:30 p.m. ET on DAZN, with main event ring walks expected at 10:30 p.m. ET. Advertisement Follow all of the action with Uncrowned's live results, highlights and play-by-play of the main card below. Main card (8:30 p.m. ET, DAZN) IBF super lightweight title: Richardson Hitchins vs. George Kambosos Jr Final eliminator for IBF lightweight title: Andy Cruz def. Hironori Mishiro via fifth-round TKO | Watch video Heavyweight: Teremoana Teremoana def. Aleem Whitfield via first-round KO | Watch video (Canceled) Welterweight: Pablo Valdez vs. Cesar Diaz Super featherweight: Zaquin Moses def. Carl Rogers via fourth-round TKO | Watch video Prelims (7:15 p.m. ET, Watch via Uncrowned) Super welterweight: Nishant Dev def. Josue Silva via unanimous decision (60-54, 60-54, 60-54) Super bantamweight: Adam Maca def. Rafael Castillo via second-round TKO | Watch video
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
What time does Ryan Garcia fight today? See Garcia vs Rolly Romero fight card, record
Victorville native Ryan Garcia returns to the ring Friday, May 2, facing Rolando 'Rolly' Romero in New York City as boxing fans look toward a rematch between Garcia and Devin Haney. Garcia's one-year suspension for testing positive for a banned substance ended last month; his victory over Haney previous year was overturned to a no-contest. Advertisement The boxer told USA TODAY that a part of him would want to do a rematch in the moment if given the opportunity. 'But again, after going through multiple times of year layoffs, I understand that you need to have those in-between fights to be sharp,' he said. 'And it was something that I felt like I wanted to do. … Rolly is no slouch, but if we call ourselves the best, we should be able to beat anybody. … I hope Devin Haney wins, and I'm going to be handling my business. So if stars align, it's even bigger." Here's what to know about the "Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves" fight. Garcia vs Romero fight: Here's how to watch boxing tonight Fans can stream the fight through DAZN pay-per-view, which offers weekend and single event bundles starting at $59.99. What time is the Ryan Garcia fight in Pacific Time? The Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero fight card consists of three matches and will begin at 2:30 p.m. PT on Friday. The main event for the Ryan Garcia and Rolly Romero fight is expected to be around 5 p.m. PT. However, the duration of the undercard will impact when Garcia and Romero start. DAZN coverage begins at 2 p.m., according to DAZN News. Is California Pacific Time? Yes, California is within the Pacific Time zone. Where is Ryan Garcia fighting? The Victorville native faces Romero at a ring in Times Square in New York City. What's Ryan Garcia's record? Ryan Garcia, left, fought Devin Haney, right, in a WBC Super Lightweight title bout on April 20, 2024. Garcia will take on Rolly Romero Friday, while Haney fights Jose Ramirez on the same card. Garcia's record is 24-1 with 20 knockouts. What's Rolando 'Rolly' Romero's record? Ryan Garcia, left, and Rolando Romero appear before their fight Friday in Times Square at The Empire State Building on April 28, 2025. Romero boasts a 16-2 record with 13 victories secured by knockout. Ryan Garcia vs Rolando 'Rolly' Romero fight card Welterweight: Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero Welterweight: Devin Haney vs. Jose Ramirez Super lightweight, for the WBO title: Teofimo Lopez vs. Arnold Barboza Jr. What to know about Ryan Garcia weigh-in and Rolando 'Rolly' Romero weigh-in Ryan Garcia, left, and Rolando Romero stare each other down during a ceremonial weigh-in at the Manhattan Center on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Garcia and Romero weighed in before the New York State Athletic Commission on May 1, with the Victorville native checking in at 146.8 pounds and Romero at 146.6 pounds. Advertisement USA TODAY reporter Josh Peter contributed to this article. Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@ This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Ryan Garcia fight: Where to watch, 'Fatal Fury' fight card and time
